Industry Moves

Engino welcomes Christopher Watts

Christopher Watts has joined Engino to lead sales in the UK & Ireland, and will have a strategic input across all international markets for the company.

As a toy industry veteran, Christopher has held senior UK and international roles at Meccano, Playmobil, Corgi, Epoch and most recently with Click Distribution.

Founded in 2004 by Costas Sisamos, Engino believes its system is one of the most advanced and versatile threedimensional construction toys in the market today, with a system of multi-faceted rods and connectors that share unique geometrical features that allow connectivity on up to six sides simultaneously.

Engino is one of the fastest growing companies in the field of STEM & Robotics, and has invested significantly to establish a European fully automated factory, introducing vertical integration from conception to manufacturing and retail.

Founder Costas Sisamos commented: “Christopher has joined Engino at an exciting time, we’re investing significantly in new product and continuing to expand into new markets. Our support in the UK from both retail and the education channels has been very encouraging, and the experience that Christopher brings to his new role as VP Sales will ensure the continued momentum and ongoing support for the omnichannel appeal of our STEM focused product ranges.”

Christopher added: “I’m thrilled to be joining the company at this point of its evolution. With the growing emphasis on STEM learning within the education curriculum, Engino’s range focused on products that deliver true STEM content to match in a fun and engaging way is being very well received.”

Rainbow Designs announces new senior sales appointments

Gary Hughes

Mandy McGough

Rainbow Designs has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of a new national accounts controller as well as a successful internal promotion to field sales team leader.

Gary Hughes, who is the new national accounts controller, has extensive experience in both the publishing and toy sectors, most recently managing the games category at Winning Moves across the high street and independents.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Rainbow family and feel like I’ve found a new home here,” he said. “Managing the nursery category, in addition to the toy and gift sectors, will be new for me, but with such a beautiful range of products, I am convinced that the future holds great opportunities and I’m really excited about taking the Rainbow brands and expanding them even further with our partners,” said Gary.

Mandy McGough, who has been with Rainbow for five years and successfully developed the Northern sales territory, has been promoted to field sales team leader to help the team strive for, and deliver, Rainbow’s growth ambition.

Speaking of the new appointments, sales and marketing director Zara Grindrod said she believes that the business is beautifully equipped, with both expertise and a bestselling product range, to deliver another great year.

“Kicking off 2022 with Gary at the helm of our National Accounts base is going to be a huge benefit for us, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this year. Mandy absolutely deserves her promotion, she has worked really hard in the last few years and is a great ambassador for Rainbow, with great passion for our brands and products, and therefore the perfect candidate to head up the field sales team,” she said.

Emily Catchpole joins Asmodee as new business development executive

Emily Catchpole has joined the Asmodee National Sales team as new business development executive, working across national accounts and exploring new avenues to drive the company’s games into the hands of even more consumers.

Emily worked in the book industry from 2005 before becoming Games and Puzzles buyer at Waterstones. She brings with her a wealth of experience in retail, having started in store as a bookseller and working her way up to store manager before moving across to the head office. She possesses a breadth of knowledge regarding what works in retail, from the shop floor to the buying office, plus the intricacies of selling games in a non-specialist space.

Emily said: “I’m thrilled to be part of this brilliant team, looking forward to the new challenges that a sales role will bring and working first-hand with the games that I love.”

Asmodee director Anil Boodhoo added: “With her vast knowledge of games and the wider industry, Emily is a brilliant asset to the National Sales Team. We wish her every success as she embarks on her career with us at Asmodee.”

James Arnold, head of Marketing at Asmodee, commented: “Emily is an important addition to the team and has hit the ground running already. The work that she’ll undertake will get more people talking about and playing our board games, ensuring they become household names for generations to come.”

Raft of new appointments at Simba Smoby Toys UK

Rebecca Galligan

Sabine Dix

Claire Hodgson

Simba Smoby Toys UK has strengthened its sales and marketing teams with a raft of new appointments.

Sabine Dix has been promoted from senior national account manager to the role of head of sales, while Claire Hodgson has been recruited as national account manager and Rebecca Galligan as marketing consultant.

Sabine has two decades of experience previously working for Spin Master, Tomy, MGA, Trends and Theo Klein and is said to have been instrumental to the growth of the business, particularly the online and grocery channels, as well as the company’s national accounts. In her new role she will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the sales team.

Claire Hodgson joined the team in January as national account manager, supporting the company’s online customers. She brings with her more than 20 years’ experience in toy and nursery industry sales, having most recently held roles with Spin Master and MGA Entertainment.

New marketing consultant Rebecca Galligan also has a great deal of experience in marketing, brand strategy and franchise management and held senior marketing roles during a 14-year career at Mattel.

Martin Whittaker, managing director at Simba Smoby Toys UK, said: “These new appointments are a great start for the sales and marketing teams. Sabine’s promotion and the additions to the team reflect the growth in the business and is just the first step in what we expect to be an exciting year ahead for the company.

“At London Toy Fair our 2022 portfolio was not only met with enthusiasm, but we also won a Hero Toy Award for the B-Kind Dolls. The additional team members will certainly be needed to meet demand for our ranges, and it’ll be great to see what we can achieve between us this year.”

Rubies appoints country manager and head of sales for Germany

Alexandra Knack

Stefan Brandenburger

Rubies’ German division has welcomed two experienced new personnel to spearhead its sales operations in the region. Alexandra Knack joins as country manager, while Stefan Brandenburger is the new head of Sales.

Alexandra’s extensive knowledge of trend forecasting and industry knowledge has been enhanced by a wide range of experience: her parents ran a toy store, she was senior buyer for the Girls, Babies and Trendy Toys category at Müller Handels GmbH & Co. KG, and she spent six years as a buyer for Toys' R 'Us Cologne. As country manager, Alexandra will be directly responsible for developing Rubies’ business model in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, ensuring agreed business objectives are met within the territory as well as implementing sales and marketing tactics that uphold Rubies’ reputation whilst driving local growth. She’ll also focus on events planning and developing Rubies’ relationships within the territory, whilst maintaining the daily management of Rubies Team GSA.

With over nine years at Smiffys as regional sales manager GSA, Stefan Brandenburger has a wealth of contacts in the toy-, party- and dress-up industries. Rubies says his innovative mindset and communication-orientated approach to leadership make him a groundbreaking and creative head of sales for Germany. Stefan will oversee the implementation of both new business plans and strategies for various retail channels and execute new product launches and promotions. Both new members of the German team will be working with Rubies’ portfolio of licences including Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, DC, Warner Brothers, Mattel, Universal and Zag. Mike O’Connell, COO, commented: “Both Stefan and Alexandra’s reputation as two of the best minds in the German toy and party market precedes them, and I am excited to see what they can bring to the table, both in executing our pre-existing business plans and in creating unprecedented growth for our German business.”

Amy Wildman promoted at Halilit

Amy Wildman has been promoted to the position of sales and marketing director at Halilit. Amy joined the company in 2015 as national account manager and has made a massive contribution to company growth, according to MD, Judith Stark.

“Amy is a huge asset to Halilit, and this promotion is well-deserved,” said Judith. “She is hugely popular with colleagues, suppliers and customers and has a great blend of commercial awareness and understanding of the agility and flexibility required to nurture and support all of our accounts, from start-up independents to multi-nationals.”

Amy’s promotion follows a flurry of recent appointments at Halilit as the expanding company continues on its mission to bring the very best of preschool play to the UK toy market.

Judith added: “Amy is well-placed to steer the Halilit sales team as we continue on our exciting journey of growth. I could not be happier to give Amy this recognition of her contribution to our success.”

Halilit started the new year with a brand refresh, having redesigned its palette and look to reflect the company’s target market, and also developed a new trade ordering website for 2022.

New sales hires for University Games and The Lagoon Group

Carol Bradshaw

Sharon Gardener

University Games and The Lagoon Group have welcomed an experienced new national accounts manager and area sales manager for South London and the Carol Bradshaw South East.

Carol Bradshaw joins the nationwide-strong sales team as the new NAM, bringing a wealth of industry and specialist toy knowledge in the games and puzzles sector. With over 15 years’ toy experience, Carol started in the industry in 2007 at Green Board Games and spent the past 10 years at Bigjigs.

The new area sales manager for South London and the South East is Sharon Gardener, who previously spent 12 years at Bigjigs Toys and also brings much experience to her new role.

Mark Jones, sales director for University Games and The Lagoon Group, said the appointments would bring even greater strength and depth to the successful sales department.

“These are both very valuable additions to our existing team, with the wealth of knowledge and experience they possess from many years in the industry, it can only benefit us as we enter our next exciting stage of growth. This is a great time to be joining University Games and I’m sure that Carol and Sharon will be an integral part of the team, and our success, for many years to come,” he added.