Industry Moves Graham Gardiner promoted to commercial director at Rubies As part of its renewed strategy and continued business reinvigoration, Rubies is proud to announce that Graham Gardiner, a long-term and well-respected employee of the company, has been promoted to commercial director for the UK, Central and Northern Europe. 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 over thirty years of 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. Mike O’Connell, managing director at Rubies, commented: “Commercially, Rubies couldn’t be in better hands. With the combination of over 30 years’ experience in the industry and 16 at Rubies, Graham understands the company direction and 365 business plans thoroughly. A natural evolution from his existing role as general manager EMEA, the role of commercial director will be the driving force behind Rubies’ new forward-thinking vision whilst spearheading new trade initiatives.”
Ken Goodisson joins Maxx Group as commercial director, EMEA Maxx Group has appointed toy industry veteran Ken Goodisson as its commercial director, EMEA. In this newly created role, Ken is responsible for leading the sales and marketing functions for YuMe Brands in EMEA with an emphasis on the company’s toy business. The role will oversee the maintenance and expansion of sales efforts into all EMEA distribution channels, including DTR, distributor sales, and eCommerce, to achieve the company’s goals for toy growth and overall revenue. Ken joins the maker of Stranger Things Upside Down Capsules from Bandai UK, where he served as head of Marketing. He has over 24 years experience in the toy industry as a commercial marketeer in EMEA, working with industry leaders Jakks Pacific, Hasbro and Vivid Imaginations (where he met his wife). “Ken is an experienced toy industry sales and marketing talent, with deep experience at some of the top global toy companies,” said Michael Kwan, Maxx Group CEO. “His leadership, combined with our out-of-the-box creative, speed to market approach, and the rights we’ve secured from top licensors, including Disney, Hasbro, Netflix, Crunchy Roll, Nickelodeon and others, combine all the ingredients necessary to reach our ambitious revenue targets for 2022 and beyond.” “Whilst most recently working on consultancy roles at Golden Bear and Bandai, Maxx Group offered an outstanding commercial director role no one could turn down,” commented Ken. “YuMe Toys is set for tremendous growth through IP development, licence acquisition and team expansion. I am proud to be part of this great team.”
Helen Genia
Janice Lam
Moonbug welcomes Helen Genia & Janice Lam Moonbug Entertainment has continued the expansion of its Licensing and Merchandising team with two new senior appointments. Helen Genia has been appointed Global Hardlines director, Consumer Products for Moonbug’s London office, while Janice Lam will undertake the same role based in New York. Each will manage a portfolio of hardlines licensees in the UK and US respectively. In her newly created role, Helen will be responsible for overseeing all regional and global EMEA based partners, as well as identifying and driving new opportunities, working across all Moonbug properties, including hit brands such as CoComelon, Blippi and Little Baby Bum. Helen has extensive experience in the lifestyle, entertainment and toy sectors and prior to Moonbug worked at Mattel for eight years, most recently as head of Licensing UK, Europe, Middle East & Russia and Hardlines EMEA. Prior to Mattel, she was at Hasbro Europe for over 18 years. She said: “I am extremely excited to be joining such an innovative company at the forefront of the children’s entertainment sector. I am looking forward to working with the team and our partners to create high quality, innovative and relevant products that will allow children across the globe to interact with their favourite characters and expand their imagination.” Janice Lam will be responsible for managing global master toy and hardlines licensing partners, predominantly based out of North America, as well as identifying and driving new opportunities. She joins from eOne where, after the company was acquired by Hasbro in 2019, she was appointed senior director, Licensing. In previous roles, Janice held key licensing executive posts at the BBC, Zodiak and Chorion. Duncan Tate, Global head of Hardlines, Consumer Products at Moonbug Entertainment, added: “Both Helen and Janice have a wealth of relevant experience and expertise that I am confident will be invaluable for the growth of Moonbug’s Consumer Products business. Their roles will play a key part in our continued rapid expansion. I am very much looking forward to working with them both at such an exciting and important time in the Moonbug journey.”
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