Michael Keaton of Toysmith

Changes are afoot at Toysmith.

After five years at his post, Michael Keaton will step down as CEO and exit the company later this year.

The industry vet made the announcement to his team on Monday and plans to continue in his role until a new CEO is named in the fourth quarter.

Toysmith's strong position and promising future make this the perfect time for me to step down and allow a new CEO to take the helm, supported by our capable leadership team."
— Michael Keaton, Outgoing CEO, Toysmith

Keaton joined Toysmith from Schleich North America in 2019 where he served as President. Prior to his role at Schleich, he spent 13 years at The LEGO Group. At Toysmith, Keaton helped navigate changing business needs during the COVID-19 pandemic amid a corporate restructuring. Last year, the company relocated its offices and warehouse.

“I want to thank the Toysmith owners for their confidence in my leadership and the Toysmith Team for an amazing experience,” adds Keaton of his time with the company. Looking ahead, he says he plans to spent more time with his family while pursuing volunteer activities, including work with The Toy Foundation.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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