In response to accelerated global growth over the past two years at ZAG for the company’s flagship brand Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, and Ghostforce, which has been earning top ratings across Europe, ZAG has appointed respected industry executive Mark Kingston to the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Global Consumer Products. The announcement was made by Jeremy Zag, ZAG’s Founder and CEO.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street and over five decades of other award-winning content and programs that support children and families around the world, announced that Gaby Sulzberger was elected the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, effective November 2023. Sulzberger has been on Sesame Workshop’s Board of Trustees since 2019. She succeeds the current Board Chair, Frans Hijkoop, who joined the Board in 2013. Sulzberger will be the first African American woman to Chair the Sesame Workshop Board.
Toy industry veteran, Erik Quam has joined Smart Toys and Games Inc, as the company’s VP of New Product and Business Development. Quam joins the US-based team and will also work closely with world headquarters based in Belgium. Quam is no stranger to the toy industry. His career spans more than twenty-five years, and he has played an instrumental role in the launch of several successful brands in the specialty toy arena. He is a well-known advocate for the inventor community and has worked closely with established inventors while also giving voice to young designers and inventors as a respected inventor relations executive.
Leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC announced the growth of its sales division as it welcomes Melanie Bailey, National Account Manager, and Dave Trentman, Sales Manager Value Channel. The two toy and game veterans will lead PlayMonster’s specialty business and value channels, respectively. “Melanie and Dave are sales powerhouses who will be key in propelling PlayMonster’s trajectory in two strategic channels, as the retail landscape continues to evolve,” said Steve Adolph, PlayMonster CEO. “They are industry pros who have a proven track record in building long-standing relationships while delivering product and innovation to their partners. We’re thrilled to welcome them both during this pivotal time for PlayMonster.”
The Toy Association announced the election of six new members and three term renewals to its Board of Directors to serve two-year terms. The announcement was made during The Toy Association’s Annual General Meeting, which was open to all members. The meeting opened with remarks from Board Chair Aaron Muderick, founder & executive chair of Crazy Aaron’s, who reflected on the state of the industry, expressed openness to feedback at any time from members and representatives across the toy and play community, and offered thoughts on the exciting build-up to a reimagined Toy Fair 2023 this September.
The Toy Foundation (TTF) announced the appointment of Andy Quartin, CEO of Thames & Kosmos, LLC, as Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Kathleen Campisano, global chief marketing officer & general manager of Beacon Media Group, as Vice Chair. Together, Quartin and Campisano will lead TTF in its new strategic action plan to unite the toy industry behind the shared commitment to create a world where every child has the opportunity to experience comfort, joy, and the extraordinary physical, emotional, and educational benefits of play.
Toonz Entertainment, the distribution wing of global kids and family entertainment major Toonz Media Group has announced the appointments of Bernhard Stephan as Director, Commercial Distribution and Maria Romanelli as Senior Sales Manager for Italy. These newly created roles in the sales arm are part of Toonz Entertainment restructuring with the aim to become a leading distribution partner across different geographies. Mr. Bernhard Stephan started his media career in 2000 with TV Loonland AG as Head of Licensing before moving on to Discovery Networks as Manager EMEA in the Program Sales & Licensing Division (today Warner Media), based in Munich & Moscow. He has also worked as Country Manager Russia & CEE at Red Bull Media House (representing and managing all media of Red Bull Media House & Terra Mater Studios), based in Moscow and took management roles as CCO at YFE AG and Head of Media at Animaccord.
Xilam Animation, an independent animation production and distribution company, announces the promotions of Cécile Hergaux-Essame to General Manager of the Xilam Group’s subsidiary, Cube Creative; Caterina Gonnelli-Linden to Chief Content Officer (CCO) and Guillaume Jallot to Chief Technical Officer (CTO).