Mattel Names Margaret H. Georgiadis as CEO

January 17, 2017 | Mattel Inc. has named Margaret (Margo) H. Georgiadis as its new CEO, a position she will assume on February 8^th. Georgiadis, who will also join Mattel's board of directors, was most recently President, Americas at Google (a division of Alphabet Inc.).

She will succeed Christopher A. Sinclair who has been chairman and chief executive of the El Segundo, CA-based company since early 2015. Sinclair, who has been on the toy company’s board of directors since 1996, will continue serving as Mattel’s executive chairman of the board.

"Over the last two years, with the help of all of our colleagues around the world, we have dramatically transformed Mattel – reenergizing our creative culture, restoring excitement to our iconic brand portfolio and delivering on our vision to make Mattel the recognized leader in play, learning and development worldwide,” Sinclair said in a press release. “I could not be more proud of the organization and what it has accomplished, or more excited about the company's future with Margo Georgiadis as our CEO.”

Georgiadis served as Google’s President, Americas from 2011 to 2017, leading the company's commercial operations and advertising sales in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. She has also led Google’s global sales operations and expanded its local and commerce businesses.

Previously Georgiadis has served as COO of Groupon Inc. She has also served as the executive vice president of Card Products and chief marketing officer of Discover Financial Services. Prior to Discover, Georgiadis was a partner at McKinsey & Company for 15 years in London and Chicago.

“Margo is a proven and extraordinarily talented executive with a deep understanding of how to build and scale brands on a global basis and expertise in effectively engaging consumers and retail partners in a rapidly evolving digital world,” Sinclair said. “She has successfully led efforts to deliver above market growth and profitability by creating transformational partnerships across content, media and technology providers and through innovation in product development and customer engagement."

Steve Pasierb, the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) President and CEO said:  “We congratulate and welcome Margo Georgiadis to the business of toys and look forward to including her in the ongoing work of TIA. Expanding the intersection of toys and technology, addressing the need for both companies and retailers to engage consumers digitally, and the opportunity to connect with the many developmental benefits of childhood play all augur well for a leader with Margo’s strong background.”