Corgi marketing director leaves

Toy maker Corgi is without a marketing director following the departure of Angus McLeod, who leaves after a two-year tie-in period following a takeover. Managing director Chris Guest says there are no immediate plans to replace him. Guest will take on some of Corgi’s marketing responsibilities.

Guest led a management buy-out of Corgi from Mattel in 1995 and recruited McLeod the following year. McLeod is understood to have made a significant profit from his shares in Corgi when it was sold to Hong Kong-based Zindart in August 1999.

Since the purchase by Zindart, Corgi has increasingly focused on the US toy market. Guest says the company has established itself in a number of US speciality outlets and has been making headway with recent direct marketing campaigns.

The brand has also benefited from Zindart’s decision to open a dedicated showroom, displaying the entire range of Corgi collectibles within New York’s Toy Centre.

Corgi, the UK leader in die-cast collectibles, has introduced new items to its James Bond line, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 007 film series and the release in the autumn of the 20th James Bond film, Die Another Day.