Industry Moves

Jo Hall joins Mischievous Wolf

Jo, the former chief commercial officer of Toys R Us Asia, has joined Mischievous Wolf as non-executive director and business partner, bringing a wealth of experience which the company says will lead to an exciting new chapter of global growth.

Jo’s tenure at Toys R Us Asia saw her bold leadership and innovative strategies revitalise the brand across the region. Having spent over 17 years in Asia, Jo has delivered many groundbreaking initiatives including product design and manufacturing in China, key global brand campaigns, rebranding multiple IPs and the introduction of immersive retail experiences which set new standards in the industry.

Mischievous Wolf’s innovative and client-focused strategies have earned the company multiple industry accolades this year, including awards for Best Small Agency and Best Agency Culture, as well as an impressive tally of three Platinum, seven Gold and eight Silver awards. Jo’s addition to the board is expected to further enhance Mischievous Wolf’s reputation as a trailblazer in the marketing and branding sector.

Jo’s decision to join Mischievous Wolf was driven by shared values and synergies between her and the company’s visionary approach. Mischievous Wolf’s clientcentric focus, with creativity and big-thinking ideas at its heart, aligns with Jo’s ‘Obsessive Advantage’ strategy for delivering transformative results. Working across the Family, Entertainment and Lifestyle sectors, the new partnership will aim to continue the company’s trajectory of global expansion. This appointment opens new opportunities across Asia and strengthens the focus on the kids’ market, which is particularly timely with the LA September Toy Previews approaching, which Jo will be attending.

The current board of directors, including Andrew Woolnough, Michelle Matthews, Dawn Wilson and Phil Marshall, have expressed their excitement about teaming up with Jo. Phil Marshall told Toy World: “Jo Hall and I go way back, driven by mutual respect and a shared passion for innovation. Her unparalleled expertise and visionary spirit are pure gold for our team. Jo has an incredible knack for seeing how our bold ideas can transform into successful campaigns. She’s exactly the catalyst to push boundaries and set new industry standards.”

Curious Universe announces new national account manager

Curious Universe has announced the appointment of Carly Maunder as a new national account manager. The company says this strategic addition is set to further bolster the its already dynamic sales team.

With over 15 years of experience in sales, Carly brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, particularly from her most recent role within the gift industry. Her extensive background and proven track record make her a valuable asset to the Curious Universe team.

Carly commented: “I am thrilled to be joining Curious Universe and excited to be part of the team. The range of titles is incredible and it’s inspiring to see what the company has developed and achieved in the past seven years. I am looking forward to growing within the team and bringing my years of experience to the table.”

In her new role, Carly will be focusing on managing some of the company’s key national accounts alongside Mark Murray, head of Mass Market Sales.

The Noble Collection welcomes Glynn Davies

Glynn Davies has joined The Noble Collection as Commercial director. He brings more than 20 years’ experience in sales, licensing and marketing gained at the likes of Lego, Warner Bros. and Eaglemoss. Based in Noble’s central London offices, Glynn will be developing existing wholesale sales and bringing new customers on board for the UK and EMEA markets as well as working together with key licensors.

The Noble Collection is renowned for creating quality licensed collectibles, prop replicas, plush, toys and games including finely sculpted chess sets from a wide range of high-profile media properties including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Minecraft, Minions, DC Comics, Jumanji, ET and many more. Originally founded in Dulles, Washington D.C. in 1991, the company has since expanded around the world to include distribution hubs in the UK and Europe.

Glynn commented: “During my time at Warner Bros., I worked closely with The Noble Collection and got to know its great quality products and how well they sell. I’m really looking forward to being part of the fantastic Noble team and expanding our footprint across the UK and beyond.”

Glynn can be contacted at GDavies@NobleCollection.com.