Mattel has appointed Christopher Farrell as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. Farrell will report to Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO of Mattel.  

In the role, Farrell will lead corporate development and strategic planning for the company. This includes identifying opportunities to accelerate growth and profitability, and optimizing business performance. 

Farrell has experience in strategy, (mergers & acquisitions (M&A), investor relations, investment banking, and communications in the retail and consumer sectors. 

Farrell previously served as Global Head of M&A at Ahold Delhaize, the Dutch multinational food retailer. He also served as Head of Strategy, M&A, and Investor Relations for Delhaize Group, where he played a leading role in the merger between Ahold and Delhaize. 

Farrell has also held the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Authentic Brands Group. Earlier in his career, Farrell spent over two decades as an investment banker. He was a Managing Director with UBS Securities and DKW (previously Wasserstein Perella), and he focused on providing financial and strategic advice to companies looking to grow. 

“Chris brings to Mattel a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, M&A, and corporate development and we welcome him to the leadership team as we advance our strategy to grow Mattel’s (intellectual property) IP-driven toy business and expand our entertainment offering,” Kreiz says. “I look forward to partnering closely with Chris on opportunities to further our growth profile and enhance long-term shareholder value.”

“Mattel is an iconic company with an incredible portfolio of brands and a strong foundation. I look forward to working with Ynon and Mattel’s talented group of executives,” Farrell says. “I am thrilled to join at this exciting juncture in the company’s history and to be part of shaping the future as we pursue various avenues of value creation for our stakeholders.”