Category: You’re Hired

Leading global toy company Just Play has appointed branding and strategy expert Evelyn Mazzocco, former General Manager of Barbie at Mattel and General Manager of Girls Products at Moose Toys, to lead its new division devoted to building the company’s portfolio of proprietary brands. Evelyn will be influential in driving the company’s long-term strategic goal of creating new wholly-owned intellectual properties. She will be heading up a new, fully integrated team including Product Development, Branding, Packaging, and Engineering based in Los Angeles. 

Brain Power Studio, a global entertainment content creator and distributor, has appointed former Netflix and 9 Story Media Group exec, Jasmine Gard, as its new VP of Finance and Operations. In the role, Jasmine Gard will oversee all aspects of finance and accounting operations at Brain Power as well as provide strategic guidance around capital financing options. Gard will manage production and corporate finance as well as risk management activities. She will lead consolidation efforts and manage relationships with third party lenders and auditors.

Award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG announced the appointment of Gaye Dean, a thirty-plus year veteran of Target Corporation, as Vice President, North America Retail Development. The announcement was made by Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO, ZAG. Reporting to Lisa K. Foster, Sr. Vice President, Licensing, North America, Dean will manage strategic relationships across all tiers of retail throughout North America for the roster of properties under the ZAG Heroez label—an umbrella brand franchise that brings together the superheroes from ZAG’s animated properties

As part of a strategic global expansion to deliver premium, fan-first products and retail experiences worldwide, Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E), announced the appointment of Rafael “Rafa” Macias to the newly created position, EVP, Global Commercial Officer, Consumer Products. Reporting to Vince Klaseus, President, Universal Products & Experiences, Macias will lead UP&E’s global commercial strategies, overseeing the development and execution of the company’s consumer products, retail sales and marketing businesses around the world.

Beacon Media, the paid media division of leading marketing and media agency Beacon Media Group, is pleased to announce two key appointments on its leadership team focused on delivering digital media excellence. These new roles highlight Beacon Media’s expanded digital capabilities in media strategy, planning and activation and broadening their programmatic buying capabilities. Enhanced programmatic offerings will increase control and transparency, expedite campaign launches, provide more options to effectively reach audience targets, and garner the most efficient rates for clients.

Leading international toy and game company PlayMonster Group LLC announced that Tim Kilpin will transition to the newly created role of Executive Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors, focusing on long-term opportunities and partnerships and leading the search for acquisitions. Sitting President, Steve Adolph has now been appointed to Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Bulldog Licensing, one of the licensing industry’s leading agencies, has welcomed Alex Salisbury to its team as Senior Licensing Manager, covering categories such as Publishing and Toys for all brands. Alex Salisbury joins Bulldog fresh from a three-month trip travelling around Southeast Asia. Before her well-earned break, she had been at Paramount since 2017, where she held roles as Retail Licensing Manager (UK and Eire), Senior Category Manager (Hardlines, UK and Eire) and Senior Category Manager (Toys, EMEA and ANZ, part of the Global Toy Team). Prior to that, Alex’s roles at Wicked and Mattel ensure that she has a wealth of experience to bring to her new role at Bulldog.

Creative Fold is happy to announce that Edoardo Kulp has joined the company as its Director of Business Development and co-owner. Edoardo has consulted with Creative Fold for over a year and, together with his duties in Business Development, will continue to be a part of Creative Fold’s product development team, helping create amazing results for Creative Fold clients. “As we head into 2023, we look forward to Edoardo further developing our client base, expanding Creative Fold’s reach within the toy and game industry and beyond,” says Katie LaSeur, Creative Fold’s COO and Creative Director.