The Senior Leadership Team at Sambro has grown to eight as the company drives product development and innovation.

Sambro International is celebrating two senior promotions and one senior hire, solidifying its Senior Leadership Team for 2023.

Clare Rix has taken on the newly created role of Brand and Licensing director, Ed Whieldon the role of Buying and Sourcing director and John Mallett has joined the business in the role of Product director.

Clare will have direct responsibility for nurturing and growing Sambro’s current licensor relationships, including key accounts such as Hasbro, Disney, Paramount, Mattel and more. She’ll also be responsible for developing relationships with new licensors, growing the number of brands the company supports.

Ed will develop a sourcing strategy in line with the company’s growth plans with an ultimate objective of delivering quality product into value-led channels, while John will put his 10 years plus of creative experience to use, ensuring Sambro continues to excel in product development and innovations, both across its own IP brands and licensor brands.

The trio will join the Senior Leadership Team’s existing five members taking the team to a total number of eight as Sambro looks to future growth following its 25th anniversary last year. The strengthened team will now have a renewed focus on product development and innovation, supporting Sambro’s wider growth aims.

Sambro, which grew its turnover by 38% in 2021 to £52m is expected to announce similar growth in its end of year (2022) figures.

“Our people are the biggest driver of our success here at Sambro and it is wonderful to see three of the new team include the promotion of two employees who have supported us on our growth journey for some time now,” said Paul Blackaby, CEO Sambro.

“Each of them has the drive, determination and passion we need to help us build further successes in 2023, and their roles in particular will really focus on our products and the ongoing development of our licensor portfolio, both of which are pivotal to our growth plans. Now we have the best leadership team we’ve ever had and it’s exciting to see how this new team with take us forward into 2023 and beyond.”

Clare, Ed and John join Ben Armstrong (chief Finance officer), Steve Hunt (Operations director) Sara Greenhalgh (UK Commercial Sales director) Eric Markus (European MD) and Denise Scott (HR director) on the Senior Leadership Team.