Sansone Steps Down as Mattel President
Robert Sansone, president of Mattel U.S.A. and a prime mover in the company’s turnaround, has decided to take some time off from toys. He will step down from his position and become senior adviser to John W. Amerman, Mattel Inc. chairman and chief executive.
The announcement came one day after the Hawthorne-based toy maker posted record third-quarter and year-to-date earnings, timing that a company spokesman called mere coincidence.
“It’s true that he really did choose to step down, and there really isn’t any symbolism to the timing on this,” said Glenn Bozarth, Mattel spokesman.
Sansone, 49, said in a telephone interview that he will work on special projects for Mattel on a half-time basis in November and will spend more time on personal pursuits such as painting, sculpting and travel.
“The last three years have been a real challenge,” Sansone said. “I think I can be more useful to the company where I can work on special projects, bring my expertise and still have my free time--a valuable commodity.”
Mattel also said the company has named Jill Elikann Barad, 39, and David M. Mauer, 41, to positions as president-Mattel U.S.A. and will report to Amerman. Barad had formerly served as president-girls and activity toys division. Mauer was formerly president of the U.S. toy group of Tonka Corp., Minnetonka, Minn.
Barad joined Mattel in 1981 and has “orchestrated the success of the Barbie line over the last couple of years,” said John G. Taylor, a toy industry analyst with L. H. Alton & Co. in San Francisco. The line “expanded at quite a robust pace. Jill is one of the masterminds of girls’ toys in the world.”
Mauer’s expertise is in boys’ toys, Taylor said, and he “brings a lot to Mattel. Mattel has historically been perceived more of a girls’ toy than a boys’ toy company.” At Tonka, Mauer was involved in the success of products such as the Ghostbusters, Batman and M.A.S.K. action-figure lines, as well as core Play-Doh, Easy Bake, Spirograph and Tonka truck products.
