FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toy Association Names Adrienne Appell as Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications
New York, NY | December 15, 2020 – The Toy Association, the not-for-profit trade association representing businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages across North America and around the world, announced today that Adrienne Appell has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing communications, effective January 1, 2021.
As an integral member of The Toy Association’s senior management team, Appell will be responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of the organization’s communications strategies, active digital footprint, key messaging, and value of play and brand integrity programs.
Appell has nearly two decades of experience in the toy and youth entertainment industry, having joined The Toy Association’s communications department in 2004. Serving most recently as senior director of strategic communications, Appell has led the organization’s safety education, advocacy, and toy trends communication programs while maintaining close contact with toy companies to stay abreast of what’s new, next, and cutting edge in toys and games.
As a leading toy trends specialist and spokesperson for The Toy Association, Appell is often called upon as an expert to speak at industry events, trade shows, and conferences on a variety of toy-related topics. She is frequently interviewed by national and local consumer and business media, including top-tier outlets like Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, Good Day New York, Reuters, the Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times, among many others.
“Over many successful years with The Toy Association, Adrienne has proven herself to be an impactful, innovative communications professional and an invaluable asset to our members,” said Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “Adrienne’s depth of experience and broad knowledge across the toy and play community will prove invaluable as The Toy Association responds to member needs and continues to demonstrate leadership in a dramatically shifting consumer and retail environment. As an important voice inside our organization and management team, she will make certain our communications programs are strategic, digital-first, and cut through to generate measurable results. Adrienne knows what it takes to advance brands; enhance the toy industry’s image among consumers and media; and broaden awareness of the global priorities, programs, and resources that provide value and return on investment to our nearly 1,000 member companies.”
Prior to joining The Toy Association, Appell worked in the corporate communications division of Scholastic, Inc. She began her career at the global public relations agency Weber Shandwick, working on client accounts such as Kodak, Disney, and Compaq computers.
About The Toy Association www.toyassociation.org /
www.thegeniusofplay.org /
www.playsafe.org
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the not-for-profit trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $97.2 billion, and its 1,000+ members drive the annual $27 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry’s voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play’s positive impact on childhood development to consumers and media. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, government, consumers, and industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.