Mattel, Inc. announced that Ynon Kreiz, 52, has been elected to serve on its Board of Directors, effective today, June 13, 2017.
Ynon Kreiz is an Israeli businessman who moved to Los Angeles, California to attend graduate school. In 1993 he received an M.B.A. from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
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While studying at UCLA, Kreiz met Haim Saban, an American-Israeli media mogul. The two joined in 1994 to become business partners.
Two years later Kreiz co-founded in London the children’s television network Fox Kids Europe. Until 2002 Kreiz served as Chairman and CEO of the channel and expanded it into one of the largest pay-TV channels broadcasting in 56 countries. FKE was listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange in Amsterdam. In 2001 the Walt Disney Company acquired a majority stake in the company.
Kreiz later served as General Partner at European venture capital firm Balderton Capital (formerly Benchmark Capital Europe), during which he served on the boards of several media and technology companies.
Kreiz is a member of the board of directors of Warner Music Group.
From 2008 to 2011 Kreiz served as Chairman and CEO of Endemol, the world’s largest independent television production company’ known for reality programming hits such as the ‘Big Brother.’
Most recently he served as Chairman and CEO of multi-channel network Maker Studios.
Executive Chairman Christopher A. Sinclair said: “Ynon brings deep expertise as a leader and innovator in the international media space, and he will add important insight and guidance to support the successful implementation of our strategy. His election is an important step in the process to replenish our Board and address the scheduled retirement of myself and Fran Fergusson at the end of the current term.”
Chief Executive Officer Margo Georgiadis said: “Ynon is a disruptive thinker who challenges the status quo and I’m confident he will bring tremendous value to Mattel as we reposition our business for accelerated growth. He will provide valuable perspective as we leverage our leading portfolio of kids IP to create new content and experiences that advance our business across the globe.”
The election of Mr. Kreiz by Board action brings the total number of directors to 12.
Kreiz is married to an Israeli former Olympic competitive sailor Anat Fabrikant with four children.
