New ICTI head: Australia's Hutchens
By Staff -- Playthings, 7/6/2007 12:01:00 PM
July 6, 2007—The International Council of Toy Industries elected new leadership at its recent general meeting. The group is now headed by Gary Hutchens, president of the Australian Toy Association.
“I am honored and privileged to accept the role of president of ICTI,” said Hutchens of his election. “It is truly gratifying to have received this recognition by my international peers. I now look forward to working on the several significant issues facing the global toy industry over the next couple of years.”
Hutchens has 40 years’ experience in the toy industry, having held senior positions at Ideal Toy Corp. of Australia, Croner-Tyco, Mattel and Dorcy Irwin Pacific. He retired as Dorcy Irwin Pacific’s CEO in January 2005. He was elected to the board of the Australian Toy Association in 1999 and in 2003 he became president of ATA, a position he continues to hold.
The position of ICTI president was previously held by TS Wong (Hong Kong).
In addition to Hutchens, the organization has three new regional vice presidents: Carter Keithley, president of the Toy Industry Association (U.S.), is now VP for the Americas; Lawrence Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Toy Council, is VP for Asia; and José Antonio Pastor, president and managing director of the Spanish Association of Toy Manufacturers is VP for Europe.
The International Council of Toy Industries is an umbrella group for the national toy associations of 22 countries. ICTI coordinates member organizations’ efforts to promote of toy safety standards, reduce or eliminate barriers to trade and advanceme social responsibility in the industry.
