The Toy Association has held its Annual General Meeting and was open to all Toy Association members and Toy Fair attendees. It included the election of four new members and four term renewals to the Toy Association Board of Directors. The 119th Toy Fair finishes today at the Javits Center.
The Meeting opened with remarks from Sharon Price John, chairperson of the Toy Association Board of Directors and president & CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, who reflected on the Association’s recent successes and momentum.
“Throughout 2024, The Toy Association achieved significant milestones, advancing its mission to be in service of its members and the industry. From expanding opportunities for members by bringing People of Play into its network, to successfully launching the first-ever Los Angeles Fall Preview marketplace in conjunction with securing the new Toy Building in El Segundo, opening this August with Fall Market Weeks taking place in September, The Toy Association continues to evolve to better serve the industry,” said Ms. John. “And Toy Fair New York continues to maintain its iconic status as the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere.”
“Throughout 2024, The Toy Association achieved significant milestones, advancing its mission to be in service of its members and the industry”
Advocacy efforts over the past year remained strong, with the creation of a Toy Association-led Tariff Task Force and Steering Committee to advocate at every level for toy exclusions from blanket tariffs, and the launch of an Ethical Supply Chain Program to support members’ compliance needs. The Toy Foundation™ (TTF), the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, had a record-breaking year, delivering $35.5 million worth of toys to 3 million children in need, while also providing immediate disaster relief for families affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton and the LA wildfires. Looking ahead, TTF will fund playroom projects at 23 hospitals nationwide in 2025. Guiding all these efforts, the Association approved and launched a new three-year action plan in January, ensuring continued service and value for members.
Toy Association President & CEO Greg Ahearn continued with a brief overview of the three-year action plan, followed by some details about how The Toy Association is evolving to better meet the needs of a wide array of members. This ranges from working to protect and promote toy industry businesses on the local, federal, and international level to creating new opportunities to help members sell their products.
“From the largest household names to entrepreneurial startups and independent inventors, every company plays a vital role in driving innovation, growth, and success in the toy and play industry,” Mr. Ahearn said. “The Toy Association is committed to ensuring that all members — regardless of size or focus — have the resources, connections, and advocacy they need to thrive. To strengthen this support, we are enhancing our member forums to better gather feedback, facilitate networking, and share relevant insights; restructuring our committees to improve efficiency and impact; continuing our global advocacy efforts, including pushing back on tariffs; and expanding industry experiences through initiatives like the Toy Building in El Segundo and the growth of People of Play. Beyond helping members find new opportunities to showcase their products and grow their businesses, we are dedicated to removing barriers to international trade and ensuring a globally connected, thriving toy industry.”
During the meeting, The Toy Association membership elected four new members to serve terms on The Toy Association Board of Directors: Erica Buxton, CEO of Razor USA; Jason Larian, president of MGA Studios; Mark McColgan, senior vice president and general manager of USA commercial at Mattel; and Melvin Wells, CEO of Sunny Days Entertainment.
Four members were elected to serve additional two-year terms: Zabina Kaur Bhasin, M.D., CEO and founder of In KidZ, Jared Carr, senior vice president and U.S. general manager of LEGO, and Jeremy Padawer, chief brand Officer at Jazwares, were elected to serve second terms; and Ashley Mady, president of Zigazoo Kids, was elected to a 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.
Prior to a final question-and-answer session, members also voted in favor of updating the Association’s committee structure. For more information about The Toy Association, visit www.toyassociation.org.
