Mattel, the largest toy manufacturer in the United States and owner of the Barbie doll brands, has appointed Isaeli Ynon Kreiz, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Mattel Board of Directors.
Kreiz, formerly chairman and CEO of EndMol Group, the producer of the “Big Brother”, has been a director of Mattel since June 2017.
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Kreiz succeeds Christopher A. Sinclair, the Executive Chairman of the Mattel Board and former CEO of Mattel, who on June 13, 2017, announced his intention to retire at the end of his term.
With over two decades of experience in the media and entertainment sectors, Kreis has served as chairman and CEO of Maker Studios, a major producer and producer of YouTube content, acquired by Walt Disney in 2014.
He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Endemol Group, one of the world’s largest independent television production companies. Prior to that, he was co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Fox Kids Europe N.V., establishing it as one of the most successful pay-TV providers in Europe and the Middle East, leading to its acquisition by The Walt Disney Company in 2001.
Kreiz serves on the Board of Directors at Warner Music Group and is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
“Over the past several months, the Board has benefitted immensely from Ynon’s deep expertise across digital, media and entertainment. Ynon has cutting-edge perspective on areas essential to our transformation strategy, giving the Board full confidence that he is the right person to succeed Chris as Chairman at this critical juncture in Mattel’s history,” said Michael J. Dolan, Independent Lead Director of the Mattel Board.
Margo Georgiadis, CEO of Mattel said: “Ynon’s thought leadership is instrumental to helping us unlock the value of our incredible global IP portfolio and deepen our consumer engagement for a digital age. I am excited about partnering with him even more deeply to accelerate our progress.”
“Mattel is an iconic global company with beloved brands and a unique ability to connect with consumers of all ages,” said Kreiz . “As we work to build on these strengths and position Mattel for growth, we are laser-focused on ensuring the Company reaches its full potential in a dynamic and rapidly evolving marketplace. Under Margo’s leadership, Mattel’s Board and management team have taken aggressive steps to reinvent the Company. Together, we are committed to delivering on our strategic pillars and to creating long-term value for our shareholders.”
In November, Mattel rejected a tender offer it received from its rival Hasbro, a deal that would have created the world’s largest toy company. The merged company could also have more bargaining power with the studios for franchises in film and television series.
