The NPD Group named François Klipfel as president of the company’s Europe Toys business.
Klipfel started his career in sales at Procter & Gamble before he moved to the point-of-sale business within GfK France in 1993. Over the past 25 years, he had different roles in the commercial team of GfK, including deputy managing director and member of the management board of the South West Europe region. In his latest role, he led a team of more than 70 managers and senior executives while handling sales and negotiations for a range of global clients.
In his new role, Klipfel will be responsible for continuing the successful development of the company’s toys practice in Europe, and launching new initiatives in adjacent industries such as entertainment. He will report into Gerhard Hausruckinger, NPD Group president for Europe and APAC.
“François has a proven track record as a successful leader, bringing with him a strong reputation for personnel development and team building. His experience and proven ability to deliver results will be a valuable asset as The NPD Group executes on its strategic priorities and plans for sustainable growth,” says Hausruckinger.