Haywire Group Taps Roach
Alan Roach joins The Haywire Group as vice-president of product development, where he will be tasked with broadening the company’s focus on high quality engaging games. Roach comes to The Haywire Group from Hasbro, where he worked on product development and licensing for the past 22 years.
“We’re thrilled to have Alan join the Haywire team,” says Mike Fisher, owner of The Haywire Group. “His depth of experience in product development will enable us to expand upon our legacy of successful games for kids and families. We plan to broaden our product strategy to include more casual games, co-operative tabletop games, licensing opportunities, and other exciting products and categories we’re not currently in.”
Uncle Milton Names CEO
Uncle Milton has named William S. Guarisco as the company’s new CEO. Guarisco joins Uncle Milton with more than 30 years of experience at leading toy, gift, and décor companies. As CEO, Guarisco will work to accelerate the growth of Uncle Milton’s portfolio of proprietary and licensed science and nature-based toys as well as room décor.
Guarisco spent more than 20 years with Mattel, where he held various senior international and domestic management roles in sales, operations, acquisitions, finance, and international expansion. He lived and worked for more than 10 years in Europe, and led many of Mattel’s expansion, integration, and restructuring efforts outside of the U.S. including five acquisitions. He was a partner with the investment group that purchased the assets of Enesco, Inc. in 2007, and made subsequent investments in Gund and Department 56. More recently, Guarisco served as a member of Access Value Investors, a private investment company.