Spin Master’s toy division will implement a leadership change in January to replace Chris Beardell, president of toys and chief commercial officer, who is retiring next month after 23 years with the company. 

Beardall began his career at Spin Master in 2000 as a VP of marketing. And he’s been spearheading product development, packaging, licensing and global sales for the past three years in his current position. Beardall’s recent accomplishments include bringing Spin Master into the digital pet product category with Bitzee, and overseeing the development of a toy line for PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Both efforts earned the company nominations at this year’s Toy of the Year Awards. 

Beardell’s replacement, Doug Wadleigh, has served in executive roles at Mattel, Warner Bros. Entertainment and Goliath Toys before landing at Spin Master last year. As head of global toy brands, Wadleigh led the design and development of more than 3,000 new products last year across all of Spin’s brands, including PAW Patrol, Gund and Kinetic Sand.