Ynon Kreiz has a new gig. More than two years after he left his post as the CEO of Maker Studios (which is now part of the Disney Digital Network), Kreiz has been named as the next CEO of toy company Mattel, where he is also expected to become chairman of the board.
Kreiz was appointed as Mattel’s Chairman back in February, but it now appears he will take on the company’s CEO role as well. In doing so, he will replace Margo Georgiadis, who is expected to step down from her position on April 26. She is expected to assume an advisory role at Mattel until May 10. One week after that, Kreiz is expected to be elected as the chairman of the toymaker’s board.
Kreiz came to Maker Studios from Endemol, arriving at the multi-channel network in 2013. A year later, he led the digital media enterprise as it sold to Disney in a deal that would ultimately be valued at $675 million. When he departed the company a year later, he was replaced by longtime Maker exec Courtney Holt.
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After leaving Maker, Kreiz stayed busy. According to a November 2016 report, he teamed up with two billionaires to put together a bid to purchase legacy media brand Time Inc.
That deal didn’t end up materializing, and Kreiz has now ended up at Mattel, which is in serious need of a kick in the pants. In its latest round of layoffs, which were announced late last year, 70 employees received pink slips.
Nonetheless, Kreiz has big plans for his new gig. “Mattel is an iconic company with many of the world’s most beloved brands and greatest toy franchises,” he said in a statement. “I am excited by the opportunity to lead the company towards its next phase of transformation and restore Mattel to a high performing toy company.”
