Disguise, Inc. — the costume division of JAKKS Pacific — appointed two hires to its growing EMEA sales team.
The new hires were announced approximately a month after Disguise established its leadership team to oversee expansion and recruitment efforts in EMEA.
Kim Lucas joins as business development lead for the U.K. and Ireland, while Nathalie Ferrier is now business development manager for France and Benelux. The U.K. and France are the two largest dress-up markets in the EMEA region.
“The U.K. and France are Europe’s strongest dress up-markets, so it is critical we have a talented and experienced staff running the development and local sales there, and Kim and Nathalie are the cream of the crop. Their backgrounds and their personalities are the perfect fit for the Disguise culture and we are thrilled for them to lead our rapidly expanding team,” said Tara Hefter, president and GM of Disguise, Inc. “We look forward to Kim and Nathalie growing some key and soon-to-be-announced major licenses in EMEA.”
Lucas comes to Disguise most recently from Christy’s by Design, where she helped to grow its costume business. She will bring experience in the apparel industry, insight into the U.K. and Ireland licensor-driven dress-up field, and relationships with retailers to her new role at Disguise.
Ferrier holds over 20 years of experience in the toy and dress-up industries, including at Amscan. At Disguise, she will develop the French and Benelux markets via direct-to-retail, working with local distribution partners and accounts.
“We are excited to welcome Kim Lucas and Nathalie Ferrier into Disguise EMEA,” said Tony Lewis, sales and marketing director of Disguise EMEA. “With their breadth of industry experience in dress up they are both sure to drive further expansion into retail and deliver a truly professional service to our customers.”
Lewis joined Disguise EMEA last month, along with Lynda Morris, who oversees design and development.