Leaving behind a legacy of innovation, Chris Beardall will be succeeded by Doug Wadleigh, current global head of Toy Brands at Spin Master.

Chris Beardall

Spin Master has announced that Chris Beardall, president, Toys and chief commercial officer, will retire as of December 31st, 2023. Doug Wadleigh, currently head of Global Toy Brands, will succeed Chris as the new president, Toys, beginning in January 2024, reporting to Max Rangel, global president and CEO.

“During Chris’ illustrious 23-year career with Spin Master, he has been a driving force behind the introduction of thousands of toys to the market while also deepening and diversifying our portfolio and expanding our global footprint,” said Max Rangel. “Chris leaves a legacy of amazing innovation that will forever be imprinted on the toy industry, and we wish him health and happiness in his next chapter. We’re grateful to have Chris’ support as we transition our Toy creative centre leadership to Doug, a seasoned toy industry executive.

He added: “Doug has already made a meaningful impact at Spin Master, helping to strengthen our global toy brands and acquire new licensed partnerships. Under his leadership we will continue to unlock future growth within our toy business.”

Chris was first appointed as Spin Master’s vice president of Product Development in 2000 and has since held progressive roles within the business. For the past three years, he served as president and chief commercial officer, where he led the toy creative centre with direct accountability for product development, design, packaging, licensing, product marketing and global sales.

“It’s been an absolute privilege and a once in a lifetime opportunity to have worked at Spin Master alongside so many talented people, creating countless toys that have inspired memorable moments for kids around the world,” said Chris. “When I look back to when I started, we were just a small toy company with a few hits under our belt. Today, Spin Master has grown into a global industry leader, known for evergreen toy properties coupled with breakthrough innovation. While my decision to retire has not been easy, I am highly confident in the team in place and its commitment to delivering awesome play experiences.”

Doug Wadleigh

Doug Wadleigh joined Spin Master in 2022 as global head of Toy Brands, responsible for profitable growth across all toy categories, leading product development and driving sales and operational alignment.

A toy industry veteran, he previously held leadership positions within prominent global companies including Mattel and Warner Bros., as well as innovative disrupters such as Baby Box and Loot Crate. Prior to joining Spin Master, he served as president and global CMO of Goliath.

With distribution in over 100 countries, Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands Paw Patrol, Bakugan, Kinetic Sand, Air Hogs, Hatchimals, Rubik’s Cube and Gund, and is the global toy licensee for other popular properties. The company recently announced the acquisition of Melissa & Doug, a move it says will bring complementary capabilities in early childhood toys to the company.