The Toy Association Board Names 2021-2023 Candidates, Updates Bylaws

January 19, 2021 | The Toy Association’s Board of Directors Nominating Committee today announced a slate of candidates to serve on the Association’s board for two-year terms beginning in 2021. The five individuals were selected by the committee, chaired by PlayMonster’s Chief PlayMonster Bob Wann, to stand for election by the Association’s membership to serve their first term on the board.

The candidates are: Kathrin Belliveau, chief purpose officer at Hasbro; Erica Buxton, chief operating officer at Razor USA; Ashley Mady, head of brand development at Basic Fun!; Anne Parducci, chief content officer at MGA Entertainment; and Dion Vlachos, executive vice president, hardlines & retail at ViacomCBS Consumer Products.

“The Toy Association’s governance and leadership responsibilities are even more vital in a tumultuous world and disrupted, evolving retail environment, while the Association’s commitment to building a diverse and inclusive board remains paramount,” said Wann. “Our members and the broader toy and play community are blessed to have five outstanding individuals with a range of business perspectives eager to serve by joining our board.”

Three existing eligible board members were also advanced for election by membership to serve one additional two-year term: Aaron Muderick, founder and executive chairman of Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld; Michael Rinzler, co-president at Wicked Cool Toys and executive vice president & partner at Jazwares LLC; and Steve Totzke, executive vice president & chief commercial officer at Mattel.

“We are fortunate to have three highly-engaged board members eager to be reelected to new terms and to retain all other members with terms not yet expiring,” added Wann. “On behalf of the entire board of directors, we also want to salute and thank John Frascotti of Hasbro for his service and commitment to the industry as his board term ends and upon his impending retirement from Hasbro. His contributions to the Association board have been exceptional, and we will miss him both professionally and personally.”

Association board members are elected for two-year terms and may be nominated for re-election twice before a required departure. Additional at-large nominations for directors may be submitted (in writing only), signed by no less than 10 percent of the regular membership of the Association, and must be submitted to the president at least 30 days before the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Notice thereof shall promptly be sent by the president to all members. Should the nominating committee choose to name additional nominees from the group already submitted, an announcement will be made forthwith and prior to the AGM.

The election of board members will occur during The Toy Association’s 2021 AGM, which with be conducted virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, March 10 at 2 p.m. (Eastern).

Two amendments to the bylaws of The Toy Association will be proposed to membership for a vote of approval during the AGM. The first seeks to increase the size of the board of directors from 13 to 17 regular members, to 13 to 21 regular members. The second seeks to increase the size of the chairperson’s advisory council from four additional members-at-large to six additional members-at-large. A vote on each amendment will be made separately.

The AGM is open to all Toy Association member companies and their representatives. During the meeting, representatives of The Toy Association’s Executive Committee, Board Chairman Skip Kodak of The LEGO Group, and President & CEO Steve Pasierb, will address the state of the Association and take questions. Following a vote on the amendments to the bylaws, a vote on new board members and a vote on term renewals will be conducted by Wann, the nominating committee chair. The 2021-2022 Executive Committee and appointees to the Chairman’s Board Advisory Committee will then be announced. A meeting link will be provided to all members in the coming weeks.