A Bury toy firm has expanded its senior leadership team to help drive forward its product development and innovation.

Sambro International Limited has made two senior promotions and one senior appointment to strenghten its team for 2023.

The global toy supplier announced that Clare Rix has taken on the newly created role of brand and licensing director, Ed Whieldon is now in the role of buying and sourcing director and John Mallett is in the role of product director.

As part of her new role, Clare will be directly responsible for growing Sambro’s current licensor relationships, including key accounts such as Hasbro, Disney, Paramount, Mattel and more.

She will also develop relationships with new licensors, growing the number of brands the company supports.

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Ed will develop a sourcing strategy in line with the company’s growth plans with an ultimate objective of delivering quality product into value-led channels.

John will ensure Sambro continues to excel in product development and innovations, both across its own IP brands and licensor brands.

The senior leadership team has grown to eight members of staff now as it looks to grow after celebrating the firm's 25th anniversary last year.

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The strengthened team will now have a renewed focus on product development and innovation, supporting Sambro’s wider growth aims.

Sambro, which grew its turnover by 38 per cent in 2021 to £52m is expected to announce similar growth in its end of year (2022) figures.

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Paul Blackaby, CEO of Sambro, said: “Our people are the biggest driver of our success here at Sambro and it is wonderful to see three of the new team include the promotion of two employees who have supported us on our growth journey for some time now.

“Each of them has the drive, determination, and passion we need to help us build further successes in 2023 and their roles in particular will really focus on our products and the ongoing development of our licensor portfolio, both of which are pivotal to our growth plans.

“Now we have the best leadership team we’ve ever had and it’s exciting to see how this new team with take us forward into 2023 and beyond.”

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