WIT to Honor Sesame, Amazon Execs

Women in Toys will recognize Ann Kearns of Sesame Workshop (left) with its Lifetime Achievement Award and Eva Lorenz of Amazon (right) as the Retailer of the Year at its 11th annual awards dinner Feb. 15 during International Toy Fair in New York City.

Kearns, who serves as vice president of global toys at Sesame Workshop played a key role in the team that saw Tickle Me Elmo become a worldwide phenomenon in 1996. The toy garnered top honors from the National Association of Parenting Publications Awards, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents magazine and Family Fun magazine. In addition to her accomplishments in the toy category, in 1998, at a time when dual licensing wasn’t common, Kearns licensed both American Greetings and Gibson Greetings for the card and party goods category in an effort to establish the broadest retail placement for the Sesame Street brand. It was a successful strategy, and American Greetings remains a key licensing partner of Sesame Workshop today. Kearns also received the Wonder Women of Toys Award in the licensor category 2010.

“I am truly honored to receive this award," says Kearns. "My work at Sesame Workshop through the years has been rewarding in its own right, especially knowing that our efforts are helping extend the Workshop’s message to so many children around the world.”

Eva Lorenz serves as the general manager for Amazon's Toys & Games division and is responsible for merchandising, marketing, customer service and operations. Lorenz joined Amazon in 2004 and held a variety of managerial roles across different categories before moving to Toys & Games in February 2014. Before joining Amazon, Eva spent 12 years in buying and merchandising leadership roles at Nordstrom.

“With the click of a button, a toy is on your doorstep the next day,” says Ashley Mady, president, WIT. “Amazon.com has changed the toy-buying playing field and set a top-notch standard in customer service, merchandising and digital marketing that continues to shape consumer retail.”