Hasbro hires new director of marketing

Colgate Palmolive head of oral care Visala James is leaving the company to become marketing director at toy giant Hasbro.

James has been Colgate’s retail category manager for one year. She follows Alistair Richards, former Colgate sales and marketing director, who joined Hasbro in June as commercial director.

Hasbro marketing director Ian Hassardat left the company last month following a change in its category management policy (MW September 22). The changes involved the consolidation of sales and marketing into two divisions.

Three other divisions are being created at toy manufacturer: brand marketing, trade marketing and sales.

James has been with Colgate Palmolive for two years. She joined the company in 1993 after leaving her position as a brand manager for Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati.

James says she has not been told when she starts at Hasbro, and does not know when she will be leaving Colgate Palmolive. Her appointment has only been confirmed this week.

Hasbro would not comment on the appointment.

Tyco Toys, one of UK’s largest toy companies, has lost group marketing director Michael Moody. Moody left Tyco, best known for its matchbox range, last Friday. He had been with the company for five years since its UK launch in 1990. Managing director David Turner says Moody’s decision to leave was made “mutually and amicably”. Moody has left to pursue other business interests.