The Toy Association Board Names 2022-2024 Candidates, Announces Annual General Meeting
January 18, 2022 | The Toy Association’s Board of Directors Nominating Committee has announced a slate of candidates to serve on the Association’s board for two-year terms beginning in February 2022.
From the larger list of nominees submitted by the announced 5 p.m. deadline on January 5, 2022, the committee has advanced three individuals to stand for election by the Association’s membership during the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) to serve a first term on the board. They are:
- Bridgette Farrell Miller, Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer, Melissa & Doug, LLC
- Andy Keimach, President, VTech Electronics, North America
- Geoffrey Greenberg, Co-President, Just Play, LLC
“The Toy Association’s governance and leadership responsibilities are even more vital in a pandemic-disrupted world and retail environment, while The Toy Association’s commitment to maintaining a diverse and inclusive board is resolute,” said Bob Wann, nominating committee chair and chairman emeritus of The Toy Association. “Our member companies and the broader global toy and play community are blessed to have three outstanding individuals with a range of business perspectives join the Association’s board as we continue our pursuit of further diversifying the board.”
Eight existing eligible board members were also advanced by the committee for election by membership during the AGM to serve one additional two-year term. The second-term nominees are:
- Anne Carrihill, Category Leader, Toys & Games, Amazon
- Chris Harrs, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Spin Master Ltd.
- Melissa Millo, Vice President, Toys, Target
- Sharon Price John, CEO, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
The third term nominees are:
- Michael Keaton, CEO, Toysmith
- Tim Kilpin, President, PlayMonster, LLC
- Andy Quartin, CEO, Thames & Kosmos, LLC
- Andy Weiner, Chief Advisor, Toy `N Around
“On behalf of the entire board of directors, we also want to salute and thank Jennifer Caveza of Otis College, Charlie Emby of Just Play, and Geoff Walker of KidKraft for their stellar service and commitment to the industry as their third and final board terms end,” added Wann. “Their commitment to the toy industry is proven, and we will miss their passion and business acumen as the Association continues to protect and promote the business of toys, games, and play.”
Association board members are elected for two-year terms and may be nominated for re-election twice before being required to depart the board. 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 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 by the original deadline, an announcement will be made forthwith and prior to the AGM.
The election of board members will occur during The Toy Association’s 2022 AGM, which will be conducted virtually via videoconference on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 2 p.m. (Eastern) on what would have been the closing day of Toy Fair. Members can email The Toy Association to receive a link to access the meeting.
The AGM is open to all Toy Association member companies and their representatives. During the meeting, members of The Toy Association’s Executive Committee, Board Chairman Skip Kodak of LEGO Systems, and President & CEO Steve Pasierb will address the state of the Association and take questions. An electronic vote on new Board members and term renewals will be conducted by Bob Wann, nominating committee chair and chairman emeritus of The Toy Association. Finally, the 2022-2024 Board Executive Committee and appointees to the Chairman’s Board Advisory Committee, as voted upon during the Board’s February 18 meeting, will be announced.