HIT Creates Global Brand Team

HIT Entertainment, a subsidiary of Mattel, has appointed three executives to spearhead global brand and marketing efforts for several of its top brands.

Robin Gay will be global brand director for Thomas & Friends, Will Speer will be global brand director for Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam, and Gina Briggs will lead brand and marketing efforts for Mike the Knight as senior global brand manager. 

The appointments come as HIT continues to build momentum for its brand portfolio.

“Our new global brand heads and their teams collectively represent some of the brightest talent in preschool brand management. We are thrilled to have their knowledge and experience as we work together to strengthen HIT’s portfolio and continue to deliver the best in preschool entertainment,” says Shari Donnenfeld, vice president global brands, HIT Entertainment, to whom all three will report. “Assembling this new team reinforces HIT and Mattel’s commitment to propel our brands to even greater levels of engagement with consumers and partners.”

In their newly created positions, the global brand team will be responsible for the developing the worldwide strategies, growth plans and positioning for their respective brands, and working with HIT and Fisher-Price regional teams and lines of business to execute the brand strategies.

Gay joins HIT from The Walt Disney Company EMEA where he most recently ran the franchise business for Mickey Mouse & Friends.

Speer has also joined from The Walt Disney Company where he held a variety of roles including in Disney Stores, Disney Channels most recently in franchise management for brands such as Jake and The Never Land Pirates, Doc McStuffins, Monsters University and Phineas and Ferb. 

Briggs previously held a variety of marketing and brand strategy roles at Nickelodeon, working on the network’s kids’ animated properties including SpongeBob, Fairly Odd Parents and Robot and Monster.