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turns over a new leaf
Verity Page has rejoined Flair GP, taking up the role of head of marketing at the company where she had previously spent six years.
Page, née Groom, had been marketing manager at the company, and was, Flair said, integral to the success of Shopkins and had worked on a number of key brands.
Commenting on rejoining the sales and marketing division at Flair, Page said: “This is a great time to be re-joining the Flair team. The existing brand portfolio combines an exciting mix of fresh IPs and heritage favourites, with the likes of Plasticine, MonsterVerse, the Messi Training System, Stickle Bricks, Unique Eyes and more. And that’s not to mention everything that’s still to come for A/W22: Action Heroes, Hamstars and Super Cute Little Babies to name but a few. It really is such a privilege to have the opportunity to work across such iconic and innovative brands and I am delighted to be a part of the incredible Flair family, once again!”
Julia Cake, UK MD at Flair GP, said: “We’re so thrilled to be able to welcome Verity back into the Flair fold. She played a huge role in launching Shopkins and multiple other Flair brands, and her experience in developing and executing impactful campaigns is going to make her a real asset to the team.
Carolina Perez-Amaya joins IMC Toys
IMC Toys has appointed Carolina Perez-Amaya as national account manager for the UK.
She joins the company from Tesco, where for the last four years she was the lead buyer for boys’ toys. In a 16-year stint at the supermarket giant, Perez-Amaya worked her way up from trainee buyer to assistant buyer, then buying manager, across a variety of sectors including cook and dine, party, stationery, home textiles and toys.
Bringing a wealth of buying experience to her new sales role, she will work across IMC Toys brand portfolio, including best-selling Cry Babies, Cry Babies Magic Tears, Bubiloons and Bloopies, as well as new brands launching for A/W22 and S/S23. She will report into UK sales manager, Lisa Cox.
Sara Taylor takes top role at MGA UK and Ireland
Sara Taylor is set to join MGA Entertainment as managing director for the UK and Ireland. Taylor boasts more than 30 years’ experience in the international toy business; – her 13-year spell at Spin Master where she oversaw the UK, Ireland and Amazon Europe businesses, was preceded by stints at Funrise Toys and Mattel.
In her new role at MGA she will be overseeing key brands such as L.O.L. Surprise!, Rainbow High and Little Tikes.
Taylor said: “There’s no doubt that MGA Entertainment is at the forefront of the toy industry – and I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to play such a critical role within it. Working with such a passionate team – and on such innovative brands – both drives and excites me. I am thrilled to be able to bring my experience, gained over three decades working in the industry, to this role and to take the UK and Ireland operations to the next level.”
Isaac Larian, CEO and founder at MGA Entertainment added: “Sara has the great owner-operator mentality to fuel MGA’s growth to the next level. Her wealth of experience, combined with our incredible UK team and market-leading brands, is definitely a recipe for success.
University challenge
After barely 12 months at University Games, Victoria Reece has been promoted from marketing assistant to the role of marketing executive. The company said Reece will play a key role in its Q4 campaigns and marketing activity, which will include a TV advertising burst, radio partnerships, YouTube and social media activity for Subbuteo, as well as multimedia campaigns for family game Smart Ass and assorted online activity for the likes of 5 Star Review, Question of Sport Board Game, Judge Your Friends and Quicksand. Marketing director Gemma Lewington is delighted to see this promotion: “Victoria is an absolute pleasure to work with and is a huge asset to the marketing team and the business as a whole. She has shown great diversity in her work and takes on every task she is given with dedication and focus.
“Over the past year, Victoria has been instrumental in the development of two new trade websites for our businesses, working with creativity and initiative to ensure these major projects were delivered on time. It has been a joy to watch Victoria grow and develop in the role, to become the accomplished marketeer she now is, and achieve this promotion that she very much deserves.”
Rubies promotion for Graham Gardiner
Rubies has announced that long-term staffer Graham Gardiner has been promoted to the role of commercial director for the UK, Central and Northern Europe.
The move, part of the company’s renewed strategy and ‘continued business reinvigoration’ means Graham will oversee new business, sales strategy and product life cycle. He has already been involved in much of this in his current position as general manager for EMEA.
Since joining Rubies in 2006, Graham has been pivotal for business growth, retail relationship management and sales across the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, CIS and Asia.
He is also responsible for warehousing expansions and B2B commercial opportunities.
With more than 30 years’ experience in the international toy industry and licensing, Graham has worked for some of the biggest names in the market including Hasbro, Mattel and Kids2. His skills and responsibilities range from European Domestic to FOB business.
Rubies MD Mike O’Connell said: “Commercially, Rubies couldn’t be in better hands. With the combination of over 30 years of experience in the industry and 16 at Rubies, Graham understands the company direction and 365 Business Plans thoroughly.
Playtime PR restructures team
Specialist toy and game PR agency Playtime PR has restructured its team after celebrating an eighth year of ‘continued growth’ for the company.
The company has appointed Mary Bobroff, Louise Hathaway and Chrissie Williams as joint heads of consumer campaigns. The move follows the appointment last year of Ceriann Smith to work as director of strategy and creative to work alongside Playtime founder Lesley Singleton. All three have worked as freelancers for a number of years at Playtime, with Bobroff and Williams now permanent staffers and Hathaway acting as an independent consultant.
Meanwhile, Amy Hayward-Paine has taken on the role of head of social media at the company, working as an independent consultant, reflecting the company’s growing workload in this area.
Golden Teddy for Tim
The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) has presented a prestigious Golden Teddy award to industry stalwart Tim Hall.
Hall, who has been in the industry for more than 35 years, has been MD at Ravensburger since 2020.
He has recently announced his retirement, with past and present colleagues and friends getting together for a celebration dinner. He was praised in nominations as someone who was always encouraging, positive and available to his team, and described as “a gentleman, a genuine human, and with a great sense of humour”.
BTHA chairman Graham Canning said “Tim is the perfect representation of what a Golden Teddy Award winner should be; someone who is loyal, respected and has served with dedication over a sustained period in the toy industry. I cannot think of anyone more deserving for this award than Tim and my huge congratulations go to him for this recognition.”
