Ben Armstrong will work with CEO Paul Blackaby to drive Sambro’s growth plans which include a projected £70m turnover by 2023.

A new chief financial officer has been appointed at Sambro, the board has announced. Ben Armstrong joins the company with over 20 years’ experience in finance, alongside a proven track record of success in implementing strategic developments within the FMCG and retail industries.

With a background in private equity and other investor backed businesses, Ben has extensive international experience, with strong technical and commercial skills across FMCG and retail brands, including EV Cargo and KidKraft Toys & Furniture.

A chartered accountant and an MBA holder, Ben brings with him a wealth of experience in maintaining strong cash margins, working capital management, alongside a proven record in supporting commercial strategy development.

Ben will work alongside CEO Paul Blackaby to drive forward the firm’s growth plans which include a projected £70m turnover by 2023.

Ben said: “Sambro is an outstanding company with a strong portfolio of toy brands and own brand products and I’m excited to join the organisation at this significant time in its ongoing growth. I look forward to working with Paul and the leadership team at Sambro to drive growth and ensure its continued success.”

As a global supplier of licensed, as well as own brand toys, Sambro works with multiple properties and licensors, who trust and liaise closely with Sambro to develop licensed toy ranges. These brands include Disney, Paramount, Mattel, Hasbro, Cosatto, plus licensing agencies such as Bulldog Licensing.

The range of products under these brands is far-reaching and includes household names such as: Barbie, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Disney Princess, and Care Bears. With innovative products such as Puzzle Palz and Felties, Sambro’s innovative products span the categories of Soft Toys, Creative Play, Novelties, Stationery and Outdoor. In 2022, Sambro will distribute over 8m units of character plush toys.

Paul Blackaby, CEO at Sambro, said: “Ben is a world-class CFO with a proven track record of driving operational performance and growth across global consumer-facing organisations. His leadership and financial expertise will benefit Sambro as we continue to grow, and I look forward to working with him as we embark on the next stage of our journey.”