Toys “R” Us Canada has a new chief play officer (CPO). Méganne Dagenais, an 11-year-old, steps into the coveted role to be an ambassador of play and to travel her country to showcase the latest toys. The company made the announcement at a surprise party held in LaSalle, Quebec. Méganne scored the position after her submission video beat out more than 200 other applicants.
“I feel like I’m dreaming; I’m so excited,” Dagenais says. “I can’t wait to start testing out all the cool toys at Toys “R” Us Canada and to remind everyone how fun it is to play.”
“We saw a sparkle in Méganne the moment we watched her audition video,” explains Melanie Teed-Murch, president of Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Canada. “She demonstrated a clear passion for play, contagious enthusiasm, and when we met her in person, she impressed us with her ability to hold a conversation with the adults in the room. We instinctively knew we had found our next Toys “R” Us kid — and it was confirmed by our vote.”
Méganne’s first assignment as CPO will be to attend Toy Fair New York from Feb. 16-19. She will meet with leading toy manufacturers to get a sneak preview of new trends for the year.
Pictured Top: Méganne Dagenais receives her business cards from Frank Juhasz, vice-president, marketing, PR and e-commerce at Toys “R” Us Canada.