Just Play, a leading global toy company, is announcing the addition of two key executives to the company’s business development team who will bolster growth across various categories. The recent hires at Just Play include Joel Berger as Senior Vice President (SVP) of New Business Development, and Jess Richardson as SVP of Global Licensing & Business Development.
Geoffrey Greenberg, Just Play’s Co-President stated: “I am very excited to welcome Joel and Jess to our leadership team. They are both respected figures in the toy industry with years of experience which will amplify Just Play’s global growth. Jess is a dynamic and creative executive who will lead our global licensing partnerships and search for additional business opportunities. Joel will lead Just Play’s emerging channel and international product development efforts.
Joel Berger, SVP of New Business Development, will utilize his vast knowledge of category development and retail to identify growth opportunities across international markets and emerging channels at Just Play. Joel’s distinguished career includes serving as President at Cardinal Industries Inc., a prominent toy and game developer acquired in 2015. He continued to lead Cardinal Industries as President until 2020 when he joined Tara Toys as EVP of Business Development.
Jess Richardson, SVP of Global Licensing & Business Development, will spearhead Just Play’s licensing initiatives and foster continued growth with strategic partners worldwide. With decades of experience in licensing and strategic planning for brand and entertainment properties, Jess has held pivotal positions at Hasbro as Vice President of Business Development, Netflix as Head of Licensing, and WWE as VP of Licensing for North America.
Just Play continues to strengthen their position as a leader in the global toy industry with these significant appointments, as well as recent additions to their international team, with more growth expected across company departments.