Strengthening its UK presence, IMC Toys has announced two new hires as well as a new, more centrally-located office in Oxfordshire.

John Gray joins IMC Toys as operations & logistics manager, bringing with him a wealth of toy sector experience, having previously held positions with Mattel, Mega Brands, Spin Master and MGA.

Katie Petitt also joins IMC Toys as account manager, after previously working in buying roles for both Debenhams and Toys R Us.

IMC Toys’ new UK office, meanwhile, is based near Banbury in Oxfordshire, which the company says offers greater accessibility to both visitors and the growing team.

Sue Barratt, IMC UK country manager, said: “I’m delighted to formally welcome both John and Katie to the IMC UK team – they both joined at the start of lockdown so it’s been an interesting start for them both as we navigate the challenges of the new post-Covid world together. The company’s investment in both people and infrastructure in the UK further signals our commitment to this market. As well as continuing to grow our Cry Babies brand, we’re growing our portfolio even further this year with the exciting new collectable pet-doll range, VIP Pets.”

The launch of VIP Pets was announced on 1st July. Joining the company’s portfolio of collectible pet-doll ranges, VIP Pets are aimed at children aged five and over, and tap into the evergreen appeal of cute pet characters, teamed with current surprise reveals and creative hair styling trends. A new series of animated webisodes accompanies the launch and features 21 five-minute episodes on IMC’s official YouTube channel, Kitoons. The launch of VIP Pets will be supported with a full marketing campaign including TV advertising, digital content, PR, social media and influencer collaborations. More information can be found here.

For more information on Cry Babies, VIP Pets and other ranges by IMC Toys, please contact info.uk@imctoys.co.