Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) proudly reveals the highly anticipated slate of finalists for the prestigious 2023 Wonder Women Awards. This esteemed recognition honors outstanding female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers, whose exceptional accomplishments have made a profound impact on the toy, licensing and entertainment industries.
Mattel, Inc (NASDAQ: MAT) announced that Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer, will step down from his position with the Company effective August 3, 2023 to take the role of president and chief executive officer at another public company. Richard Dickson has been at Mattel for a collective 20 years.
Just Play, a leading global toy company, is announcing the addition of two key executives to the company’s business development team who will bolster growth across various categories. The recent hires at Just Play include Joel Berger as Senior Vice President (SVP) of New Business Development, and Jess Richardson as SVP of Global Licensing & Business Development. Geoffrey Greenberg, Just Play’s Co-President stated: “I am very excited to welcome Joel and Jess to our leadership team. They are both respected figures in the toy industry with years of experience which will amplify Just Play’s global growth. Jess is a dynamic and creative executive who will lead our global licensing partnerships and search for additional business opportunities. Joel will lead Just Play’s emerging channel and international product development efforts.
As enthusiasm builds for the biggest night in the toy community, companies from all corners of the industry are excitedly uniting to support the 2023 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and its mission to deliver the extraordinary benefits of play to children in need. Every sponsorship has a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children through TTF’s program areas: The Toy BankSM; Play Grants; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In 2022, the industry’s support helped TTF reach more than 925,000 children and families. Thanks to this powerful group of sponsors, plus yearlong contributors, YOUR Foundation will continue to expand and reach even more children in need.
Toy and game company Hasbro and luxury fashion label Anya Hindmarch are proud to collaborate on the launch of the highly anticipated Anya Hindmarch x Mr. Potato Head capsule collection. The eight-piece capsule collection of small leather goods spotlights the cross-generational pop culture icon, Mr. Potato Head in his classic Derby hat, mustache and bright red nose. The collection is available now at Anya Hindmarch, Net a Porter, Matches
Poptaters, the brand that brings fans their favorite pop culture characters through the iconic Potato Head, announces wave 2 of its licensed characters. Spud-tacular, new mashups include fan favorites Dwight Schrute from The Office, “The Dude” from The Big Lebowski, Sonic the Hedgehog, with Chucky (of Child’s Play) and Good Luck Trolls coming soon! Poptaters combines Hasbro’s classic Potato Head with pop culture icons to create hilarious, fun collectibles. In classic Potato Head fashion, each figure features removable, interchangeable facial and body parts, including one surprise Potato Head original piece.
It has been announced that two of the world’s most popular franchises – Transformers and G.I. Joe – have a new comic book home as part of the historic partnership between toy and game company Hasbro and Skybound, effective immediately. Comic book fans who picked up their copies of Void Rivals #1 in comic shops today were the first to learn the news, as the blockbuster Oblivion Song team of writers Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), along with colorist Matheus Lopes (Step By Bloody Step) and letterer Rus Wooton, revealed that the highly anticipated series was actually a stealth launch of this new shared “Energon Universe” with the surprise first appearance of iconic Transformers character Jetfire.
Licensing International has announced that six executives—Paul Cannon, Caprice Australia; Carolyn D’Angelo, Gordon Brothers; Pamela Deese, ArentFox Schiff; Raj Malik, Bioworld Merchandising; Marie-Laure Marchand, Chefclub; and George Wade, Bay Laurel Advisors—were elected by the Licensing International membership to serve three-year terms on its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2023. As these six new board members joining the Licensing International Board, Steve Scebelo, President of NFL Players Inc., will continue to serve as chairperson; Veronica Hart, EVP of Global Franchise Planning for Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences, will continue to serve as vice chairperson; and Marc Schneider, Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer at Beanstalk, will continue to serve as treasurer.
The winners of the 2023 Licensing International Excellence Awards were unveiled last night in a ceremony that brought together industry executives from around the world to celebrate the best of the global brand licensing industry. The 30 award winners were selected from 201 finalists from across the globe. More than 850 submissions were received, narrowed down by an expert global judging panel and voted on by members of the licensing industry at large. This year’s Excellence Awards were hosted by Cakewalk Entertainment founder and CEO George Leon and La Panadería President and CEO Maca Rotter. The awards were presented by Alifish, Jazwares, Spaceport, and Spirit.