Mattel Strengthen Leadership Team as Part of Transformation Strategy
Mattel has appointed Sven Gerjets as chief technology officer (CTO), Amy Thompson as chief people officer (CPO) and Nancy Elder as chief communication officer (CCO), effective immediately. The company separately announced the appointment of Joe Euteneuer as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The executives will work closely with CEO Margo Georgiadis and the Mattel leadership team to support Mattel’s transformation strategy focused on delivering enhanced and sustainable growth.
As CTO, Gerjets will create and execute a plan to transform Mattel into a more nimble, data-driven company. He will be responsible for all aspects of technology implementation, including shared technology platforms, analytics, software and hardware development, and connected products. Gerjets brings more than 25 years of experience leading technology organizations and improving business results across a broad range of industries including telecom, higher education, satellite communications, and data security. He joins from software startup n.io Innovation where he was chief product officer and currently serves as an advisor. Prior to that, he was chief information officer at Time Warner Cable.
As CPO, Thompson will work with Mattel’s leadership team to champion the company’s values and mission and ensure optimal collaboration across the global workforce. She will focus on building a progressive and world-class human resources organization and establish a high-performance company culture. Thompson joins Mattel from TOMS Shoes where she served as the head of HR for five years and successfully developed and implemented plans that increased employee engagement and improved organizational design and accountability. Prior to TOMS, Thompson worked in several global HR leadership roles at Starbucks Coffee Company. She is a supporter of Manhattan Beach Education Fund (MBEF) and a member of Advancing Women Executives.
As CCO, Elder will work closely with Georgiadis and the leadership team to define, establish, and promote the Mattel brand as a leading global company in learning, development and play. She will oversee all aspects of communications, including corporate, employee, brand, government affairs and the Mattel Children’s Foundation. Most recently, Elder was CCO at JetBlue Airways Corporation, where she was responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive strategic vision and reputation strategy for the brand as well as managing media relations, internal communications, social media and crisis communications. She previously held communications and marketing leadership positions at MasterCard, GE, and Time Warner. Elder currently serves as a board member of the JetBlue Foundation, GrowNYC, and the Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation.
In his role as CFO, Euteneuer will work closely with the company’s senior management team and Board of Directors to provide financial and administrative leadership to support Mattel’s transformation strategy focused on delivering enhanced and sustainable growth. He will report directly to CEO Margo Georgiadis. Euteneuer replaces Kevin Farr, who left the company on September 29, 2017. Euteneuer’s role took effect September 25, 2017.
Euteneuer has more than four decades of financial leadership experience in the technology, telecom, and cable industries. Prior to joining Mattel, he was CFO at Sprint Corporation, where he managed a large-scale finance organization and helped drive widespread organizational transformation for the Fortune 500 company. Prior to Sprint, he served as CFO of Qwest Communications, XM Satellite Radio, and Comcast Corporation. Euteneuer has a strong background within all dimensions of finance including operational finance, efficiency initiatives, pricing strategies, cost management, capital allocation and fund raising. Euteneuer received his master’s degree in Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and is a Certified Public Accountant.