ZURU CEO Nick Mowbray received the 2018 New Zealand Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award. Mowbray will represent New Zealand at the 2019 EY World Entrepreneur of The Year awards in Monte Carlo next year. Mowbray was also honored with the New Zealand Young Entrepreneur of The Year award, the first time in the awards’ history that a entrepreneur received both honors.

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards take place in 145 cities in more than 60 countries. More than 1,500 business people in Australia and New Zealand have been recognized through the program since 2001.

ZURU, founded by Mowbray and his two siblings, Anna and Mat, has grown to 5,000 employees across 18 offices. The company produces 500,000 toys per day and distributes to major retailers in more than 120 countries. ZURU is currently the No. 8 top toy manufacture in the U.S., based on retail sales, according to the company, a 29 percent increase in from last year.

In the coming year, ZURU plans to launch new toys and brands and will expand production into Vietnam.

About the author

Madeleine Buckley

Madeleine Buckley

Madeleine Buckley was a Senior Editor at The Pop Insider, The Toy Insider, and The Toy Book. She covered all things toys and fandom, and has appeared on Cheddar and a variety of regional news networks to talk about the latest trends in both. She is a movie score enthusiast, mediocre knitter, proud Syracuse alumna, and Marvel lover. You can usually find her at the movies or hanging out at home with her super-pup, Parker.

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