Toy Association 2025 Board Election and Annual General Meeting Set for March 1

kids in boardroomJanuary 30, 2025 | The Toy Association™ is inviting all members to attend its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place during Toy Fair® in New York City. The meeting, which will include the election of members to serve on the Board of Directors, is set for March 1 at 4 p.m. in the General Session Theater in the Javits Center.

Open to representatives of all Toy Association member companies, the AGM will include comments on the state of the Association from members of the Executive Committee, including Board Chairperson Sharon Price John, president & CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, and Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association; an overview of 2024 fiscal results and overall financial health; news about the Association’s upcoming events; an overview of the Association’s 3-Year Action Plan; an update on the Association’s work to protect the industry against tariffs and regulatory threats; and the election of individuals to serve on the Board of Directors to represent the industry. Board Chairperson Emeritus Aaron Muderick, founder & executive chairman of Crazy Aaron’s, who currently serves as chairperson of the Nominating Committee, will lead members in attendance through a vote to approve new board members and existing board member term renewals.

Four eligible board members have been advanced by the Nominating Committee for election by membership during the AGM to serve an additional two-year term. The term renewal nominees are:

  • Zabina Kaur Bhasin, M.D., CEO & Founder, In KidZ (second term)
  • Jared Carr, SVP, U.S. General Manager, LEGO (second term)
  • Jeremy Padawer, Chief Brand Officer, Jazwares (second term)
  • Ashley Mady, President, Zigazoo Kids (third term)

Association board members are elected for two-year terms and may be nominated for re-election twice before being required to depart the board.

From the larger list of nominees submitted by the announced 5 p.m. deadline on January 10, 2025, the Nominating Committee has advanced seven individuals to stand for election by the Association’s membership during the 2025 Annual General Meeting to join the board and start their term beginning on March 1, 2025. They are:

  • Erica Buxton, CEO, Razor USA
  • Jason Larian, President, MGA Studios
  • Mark McColgan, SVP & General Manager, USA Commercial, Mattel
  • Melvin Wells, CEO, Sunny Days Entertainment

The AGM is open to all Toy Association member companies and their representatives, who are strongly encouraged to attend. Members can reach out to The Toy Association with any questions.

With the final slate of board nominees now official, any 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 & CEO 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 or different nominees from the group already submitted by the original deadline, an announcement will be made forthwith and prior to the AGM.