EL SEGUNDO, California – Mattel, Inc., have announced that the Board of Directors has named CEO Bryan G. Stockton, 59, as Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2013. Stockton succeeds Robert A. Eckert, 58, who will be retiring from his service as director and Chairman of the Board effective December 31, 2012. Stockton will continue to hold the position of chief executive officer, a position held since January 2012.
“During the last year as CEO, Bryan has further demonstrated his leadership abilities as evidenced by the strong year-to-date results. The Board is confident that Bryan will continue to drive the company forward with his keen strategic focus and his experience in growing brands and countries,” said Christopher A. Sinclair, lead director for Mattel. “I also want to take this opportunity to thank Bob not only for his leadership as chairman during the last year, but also his last 12 years of service to Mattel.”
In 2011, Stockton served as COO with responsibility for daily operations of the company, including its business units: Mattel Brands, Fisher-Price, American Girl, and the North American and International divisions, as well as responsibility for the Operations and Corporate Responsibility functions. Stockton joined Mattel in November 2000 as executive vice president of Business Planning and Development, and was responsible for identifying and developing strategic opportunities for the company, as well as managing all merger and acquisition activity. He gained responsibility for International in 2003, where he began driving strong performance of Mattel’s business outside the U.S. He was promoted to president of International in 2007.
Before that, Stockton held a variety of board leadership positions from being on the Board of Bob Evans Farms Inc., Toy Industry Association, Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA and Chairman of World Trade Week Southern California.
In May 2000, Mr. Eckert joined Mattel as chairman and chief executive officer from Kraft Foods, Inc., the largest U.S.-based packaged food company in the world.
