The appointments come following the company’s recent sales growth as it invests further into its sales and marketing capabilities and design facilities.

Caroline Martin

Golden Bear has announced the appointment of five new hires across its sales, marketing and creative departments.

Caroline Martin and Jonathan Williams have been appointed to the roles of senior brand manager and national account manager respectively. Caroline will work closely with the brand team to implement and progress processes and strategies to best support new product development based on consumer insight and trend research. She brings to the role 20 years of leading product and brand abilities with diverse, cross-sector experience and a strong record of change and transformation management. Jonathan will lead the management and growth of the company’s major UK retailer accounts. He comes equipped with 20 years’ experience in sales, 10 of which have been for major accounts, and having worked with market leading global brands.

Jonathan Williams

In addition, Kate Goss joins the business as creative manager, Heather Preece as graphics designer, and Niamh Beer as digital marketing coordinator. As a creative team leader with strong commercial acumen, Kate will be maximising the team’s output, overseeing asset creation, design and management for all areas of the business. In turn, Heather will be working alongside Kate to create engaging, innovative artwork, packaging, style guides and presentations, helping to shape the visual presence of Golden Bear’s brands for the digital and physical marketplace. Niamh joins the growing digital marketing department, where she will focus on driving sales via owned online channels – and those of retail partners – while also developing the company’s website, virtual sales tools and social media platforms.

Commenting on the appointments, Barry Hughes, managing director, Golden Bear Toys said: “It’s a fantastic time to be joining Golden Bear. We’re experiencing a period of growth in an evolving business, seeing vast innovation throughout our brand extensions and an ongoing commitment to the development of new and exciting products and properties. I’m delighted to be welcoming each of our new members to the team.”