UPPER DECK: Toy division announced

News

Ronnie Dungan Jun 24 2008, 1:56pm

Trading card specialist Upper Deck, has formed a dedicated toy division.

The firm already owns the distribution and/or licensing rights for different toy brands in various markets outside the UK such as Tech Deck, DiGata, Gormiti, Bakugan, Huntik, and Storm Hawks. Upper Deck is also the master toy licensee for children’s TV series, Grossology, across all markets.

At the head office in Weesp, a new team has been appointed for the toy category. The team is responsible for the development and distribution of toys in the territories of Europe, Latin America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The team is headed up by Caspar Klinkhamer as Category Director Toys.

Klinkhamer worked as Managing Director at Toys ”R” Us and Director of Toys & Multimedia at Blokker B.V.

Marco van de Kant, who has been appointed Category Manager Toys, worked for fourteen years for Mattel. He has experience in both marketing and brand management.

Nico Blauw, CEO of Upper Deck Entertainment, said: "Our goal is to be one of the top 5 entertainment companies in Europe within 3 to 5 years. I am very pleased to have Klinkhamer and Van de Kant join the team and confident we can achieve our goal now that we have them on board."