TOMY International has named Julie Gwaltney its Vice President of the Toy Division, promoting her from Senior Director of Toys. 

Gwaltney brings more than three decades of experience in the toy industry. In her new role, Gwaltney will oversee all TOMY International toy brands across the company’s Oak Brook, IL, and Dyersville, IA offices. Popular TOMY brands include Lamaze, Club Mocchi- Mochi-, TOMY Games, and a number of farm toy brands. TOMY’s Amazon business team will additionally report to Julie.

Gwaltney got her start in the toy industry at RC2, later purchased by Takara Tomy, where she worked on the Lamaze brand. She led a variety of projects, including the global launch of the Chuggington brand. Following her time at RC2, Gwaltney consulted for a number of companies in the toy and baby industry, ultimately working with Sassy Baby to establish its licensing program.

Eventually rejoining TOMY, Gwaltney has been actively involved in efforts toward DEI. Gwaltney has served as a member of TOMY’s DEI Steering Committee and Women in Toys (WiT). Since 2021, she’s been WiT’s Chicago Chapter Co-Chair. She was also recently elected to the Board of Trustees for The Toy Foundation.

“TOMY’s mantra is to ‘Make the World Smile’ and that truly is what I love about my job,” says Gwaltney. “I love knowing we can bring joy to people of all ages and stages in life.”