Industry Moves

Creative Kids introduces new international sales manager

Arts and crafts company Creative Kids has appointed Maria Betania De Freitas is its new international sales manager. Maria started in consumer products at Sambro, where she managed existing European accounts and then opened new horizons for all the company’s categories around the world. She most recently worked at Sinco where she developed a full export/international process for the business. Commenting on her new role, Maria said: “I am super excited to be with such a wonderful business as Creative Kids. It has a lot of family values, good brands and great products, which are affordable for everyone.”

Creative Kids is already established within the UK and is becoming known and respected for its extensive arts & crafts and STEM toy ranges with successful owned properties, as well as an increasing licensed property portfolio. The company recently signed a multi-year, multi-national licensing partnership deal with Hasbro, which will see it produce a full range of Play-Doh products across a wide assortment of clays and compounds.

Penguin Ventures welcomes Kelly Ball as head of Retail

Penguin Ventures, the licensing and consumer products team within Penguin Random House Children’s, has appointed Kelly Ball in a newly created role of head of Retail.

Kelly will report to David Sprei, commercial director at Penguin Ventures, and will be responsible for driving commercial growth and brand presence across online and offline retail environments, securing opportunities for Ventures’ portfolio of iconic literary children’s brands including The World of Peter Rabbit, The World of The Snowman, Flower Fairies and Fun With Spot.

David said: “Kelly’s experience in executing strategic brand retail activations, together with her clear commercial and digital first mindset, will help to drive impactful and commercial success for our business across the entire Ventures portfolio.”

Kelly added: “I couldn’t be more excited to join the Penguin Ventures team. Peter Rabbit and Spot are firm favourites in my house, and I cannot wait to work with our licensees and retail partners on developing exciting brand campaigns and activations for 2024 and beyond.”

Kelly can be reached via email: KBall@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk

Moose Toys appoints new senior national account manager

Moose Toys is celebrating another addition to its global team, with the appointment of Geraint Roberts as senior national account manager. Based in Cornwall, Geraint has already started his new role and is responsible for leading the Smyths account across both UK and Ireland, as well as the CE business.

“We are extremely pleased and excited to have a Geraint on board. His experience and talent will help keep Moose on its continuing growth path. We know that Geraint will be a wonderful addition to the team and that he will embrace the fantastic culture that Moose is already so famous for,” said Tony White, UK Sales director for Moose Toys.

Geraint brings over a decade of experience across the toy and retail industries and joins Moose from Hasbro.

“Moose’s development to become the most innovative toy company in the world, and its fun and unique family values based culture, were incredibly attractive to me,” said Geraint. “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Moose Toys. The company’s growth over the last few years has been phenomenal and I’m excited to be able to be a part of its success going forward.”