This article is based on a press release issued by Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment on June 15, 2026.

June 15, 2026 | Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) has announced new leadership appointments, naming Deirdre Cross as chairwoman of the board and electing new members to its Board of Directors.

Joining the WiT Board of Directors are: Rachele Harmuth, chief product officer at CrunchLabs, Marie Marks, head of global experiences at Paramount, and Carrie Mueller, senior director of sales at VTech Electronics North America.

Lisa Gilbert, president of sales and marketing for the Americas at Hasbro, and Stephanie Bailey, an executive at Moonbug Entertainment, were both re-elected to the board and will serve additional terms.

The appointments, effective July 1, bring together leaders representing the toy, games, licensing, entertainment, retail, consumer products, and innovation sectors as the organization continues to expand its global community and industry influence.

Cross assumes the role of chairwoman following her service on the WiT Board of Directors and as co-chair of the Wonder Women Awards. She currently serves as co-founder and CEO of The Office of Tiffany Birdsong, a Seattle-based creative studio and tabletop incubator. Over nearly two decades in the toy and game industry, Cross has held executive roles at Moose Toys and Funko, where she helped grow emerging brands and licensed gaming portfolios tied to major entertainment franchises.

“The power of WiT has always been its ability to spark genuine connection and to elevate the women shaping the toys, licensing, and entertainment industries.” Cross said. “I am honored to step into the role of chairwoman. The landscape of business is changing rapidly, and alongside this phenomenal board, I’m excited to accelerate the next chapter of community, mentorship, and shared opportunity for women across all facets of the industry.”