Parsippany, N.J. — Tru Kids Brands™, parent of the Toys”R”Us® brand, has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Anand Shah as general counsel and Brian Maeda as chief business development officer.
Shah returns bringing a wealth of experience in the retail and consumer products industries, as well as a deep understanding of the Toys”R”Us brand and its global footprint. As corporate counsel at Toys”R”Us from 2012 to 2017, he was responsible for global corporate governance, negotiating and implementing strategic partnerships, and supporting financing activities and licensing transactions. Most recently, he served as assistant general counsel-North America for Ferrero.
Maeda joins Tru Kids with a 25+ year proven track record of successfully developing and growing global brands. During his career, he has worked on some of the most influential properties in the entertainment and consumer goods spaces, including Star Wars, Power Rangers, WWE and Xbox. Most recently, he held the position of vice president, international licensing for WWE.
“This is a momentous time for the company as we head into the holiday season with a positive outlook on the toy market backed by an experienced leadership team and best-in-class global partners,” says Richard Barry, CEO of Tru Kids. “Having worked with both Anand and Brian for many years, I am confident their industry experience and leadership will have a significant impact on our success and the continued growth of our global business.”
Established in January 2019, Tru Kids’ license partners currently operate over 700 Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us branded stores and e-commerce sites in more than 25 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In 2019, the company introduced its new Toys”R”Us retail stores in the United States currently located in Paramus, N.J., and Houston. For more information, visit www.trukidsbrands.com.
SOURCE: Tru Kids Brands™