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Changes at Ravensburger Ravensburger has announced two new appointments for 2022, boosting multiple teams within the company. Boosting the operations team, Jonathan Heil joins as facilities manager with 10-plus years of facilities, office and operation management experience. He will report directly to head of supply chain and operations Colin Reeves. Della Holding is appointed as consumer service advisor and will report directly to head of marketing and product development Katy Fletcher.
Adrian Whyles leaves Playmonster UK Toys R Us UK appoints Sarah as senior buyer Toys R Us UK has recruited Sarah Harding to the role of senior buyer of toys. Dr Louis Mittoni, CEO and managing director of Toys R Us ANZ, said Sarah joins the Toys R Us UK buying and marketing team “with a wealth of toy experience, having commenced her journey with toys more than 20 years ago at Woolworths and Entertainment UK before moving to Hamleys. “She spent eight years as a senior buyer at Toys R Us before moving to Mothercare and Early Learning Centre. Sarah joins us from Bourne Leisure, and we are delighted to welcome her on this amazing journey of our iconic brand. This takes our senior buying team to over 120 years of experience!”
Adrian Whyles, managing director of Playmonster UK, left his post at the end of February at his own request. He said: “I have enjoyed my time at Interplay/ Playmonster, as we have grown the business, built successful brands, and become part of the Playmonster family. There is a great deal to look forward to, in 2022, with the company now in a strong position to build on a global basis under the leadership of CEO Tim Kilpin. “For me, I feel it is time for a new venture. I’ll take a little break, and then on to the next exciting chapter, wherever that may take me. I wish the UK team and our US colleagues every success for the future. There
are some very special people at the company, and it has been my pleasure to work with them.” The UK team will now report into the recently-announced PlayMonster global organisational structure. PlayMonster’s local sales and marketing team will report to Scott Flynn, global commercial officer. PlayMonster UK is embarking on a big year in 2022 with a global venture on the My Fairy Garden line, with 11 new edible plants. The Discover, Grow & Play theme through its Peppa Pig brand along with My Living World and a new licence partnership with WWF encourages children to interact with nature and discover new ways to play through growing. In addition to the established brands of FabLab and Fuzzikins, also comes the launch of the Ann Williams range, and the introduction of the Spirograph brand.
Mattel names
Ruth as head of consumer products for EMEA
Mattel has appointed marketing veteran Ruth Henrquez as head of consumer products for the EMEA region. In this role, she will oversee the entire consumer products portfolio across all Mattel IP brands, as well as further integration of the CP division into franchise marketing. Ruth has had a successful decade at Mattel EMEA with expert knowledge of all brands, having worked on every brand in the Mattel portfolio both at a local and regional level. She joined the Mattel finance department in 2011 before moving into marketing, and headed up marketing teams in both Italy and the Iberia region, where she accelerated the business in both her appointments. In her most recent role where she relocated to the UK, she was marketing director for EMEA infant and preschool brands including Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends and Fireman Sam.
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