Industry Moves Bandai welcomes Kirsty Mackenzie as new head of marketing Bandai UK has announced that Kirsty Mackenzie has been appointed as its new head of marketing following her promotion from marketing manager. Kirsty joined the Bandai UK team in 2018, having previously held marketing positions within the toy industry for 13 years. “Kirsty’s promotion is testament to her commitment and the impact she has made during a fundamental period of evolution for the company”, said Nic Aldridge, managing director, Bandai UK. “Kirsty has vast experience in strategizing and implementing marketing campaigns and will be instrumental in heading up the department to drive growth and market share for all Bandai UK brands. “It’s an exciting time to be part of the company,” added Kirsty. “As we head in to 2020, our portfolio continues to grow with an assortment of own IPs and strong, global licences, all of which I’m looking forward to developing and supporting with strategic marketing and tactical campaigns.”Steve added: “It’s a great time to be joining Cheatwell as the company’s plans are so strong. We have many fantastic new lines to introduce in 2019 and joining the company takes me back to where I feel I belong, with a British games company offering quality games and toys.”
Hunter Price hires Tim White as trading manager Hunter Price International has appointed toy industry specialist, Tim White, to join its Manchester based team as trading manager for the leading consumer products business, which specialises in toys, stationery, homewares, bags for life, seasonal and licensed products. With over two decades’ experience within the toy industry, Tim has worked with the likes of Poundstretcher, James Galt and Pyramid International. At his most recent role at Sambro, he managed range and category management for toys and novelty lines, working closely with Disney, Nickelodeon, Universal and Hasbro. As part of his new role, Tim will focus on new product development and distribution, particularly around Hunter Price’s licensed offering, with key partners including Warner Bros and Orb, as well as own label ranges. This is the latest addition to the Hunter Price team following many high-profile hires across all areas of the business over the past 12 months, from buying and design, to sales and marketing. Talking about his new role, Tim said: “There’s such a buzz about Hunter Price – and you feel it as soon as you walk through the door. With so much potential for growth, personally and professionally, it’s a really exciting move for me. We’ve got some great retail and brand partners and we’re already working on some truly innovative and engaging product launches over the next year.”
Topps Europe announces three new appointments Topps Europe has announced three new appointments at its Milton Keynes offices. Ché Booy, Dave Chapman and Jonathan Marsh all join the company, bringing with them a wealth of experience. Ché Booy has joined as digital marketing & social media manager. Ché’s expertise includes marketing experience across a wide range of industries. Topps also welcomes Dave Chapman as trade marketing designer. Dave is a specialist in graphic design, with skills ranging from print, digital, 3D and motion as well as video editing. Jonathan Marsh has also been appointed as Topps national accounts & business development manager for UK & Ireland. Jonathan joins the sales and circulation team, which forms part of the EMEA Sales and Marketing Group, headed up by CMO Patrick Rausch. Jonathan brings a wealth of experience to Topps, having worked previously at Comag & Seymour.
Magic Box Toys appoints Laura Bull as UK & Ireland sales manager Magic Box UK, has announced the appointment of Laura Bull as UK & Ireland sales manager. With a strong background in the toy industry spanning almost a decade and working for leading manufacturers such as Schleich and Posh Paws, Laura will be responsible for developing distribution in the toy channel and managing the sales team. Julia Cake, commercial director at Magic Box Toys, said: “We are delighted to welcome Laura to Magic Box. Her sales and marketing experience will be a great asset to continue building the growth of Magic Box in the UK and Ireland.” Laura added: “I am thrilled to be joining Magic Box, a company renowned for pioneering the collectibles market and for producing creative and original brands loved by children across the globe. The company is at pivotal growth point and I am excited to be extending our distribution into the toy channel.” Laura can be reached by email at l.bull@magicboxint.com.
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