Hasbro CEO Goldner named board chairman

HASBRO PRESIDENT AND CEO Brian D. Goldner has been named chairman of the board, effective May 21. / COURTESY HASBRO
HASBRO PRESIDENT AND CEO Brian D. Goldner has been named chairman of the board, effective May 21. / COURTESY HASBRO

PAWTUCKET – Hasbro Inc. has appointed president and CEO Brian D. Goldner as chairman of the board effective May 21, the date of the annual shareholder meeting.
On that date, current Chairman Alfred J. Verrecchia will retire after 50 years at the company at the target retirement age of 72.
Goldner joined Hasbro in 2000 and became CEO eight years later.
“Brian has exhibited tremendous leadership and vision in setting a path for Hasbro,” Verrecchia said in a statement. “Through his unique ability to understand the consumer and the evolution of our industry, Brian established and is executing a strategy that is delivering strong results and differentiating Hasbro in a very competitive global marketplace.”

Goldner said he is honored to be appointed chairman.
“I am confident that together with the leadership of the board and our global Hasbro teams we will continue creating the world’s best play experiences and drive enhanced total returns for our shareholders,” Goldner said.
Due primarily to the attainment of retirement age, four additional Hasbro board members will retire and not stand for election at the May annual shareholder meeting: Frank J. Biondi Jr., John (Jack) M. Connors Jr., Michael W.O. Garrett and Jack M. Greenberg.
“Each of the retiring board members has provided essential guidance and leadership to Hasbro. We are grateful for their contributions to Hasbro’s success,” Goldner said. “I want to particularly thank Al for his exemplary service to Hasbro through both his time on the board and his leadership over his long and distinguished career at Hasbro.”
The board also named Basil Anderson to the newly created role of lead independent director, effective May 21. This role replaced the presiding director effective as of the 2015 annual meeting.
Anderson has served on Hasbro’s board of directors since 2002 and is currently chair of Hasbro’s nominating, governance and social responsibility committee.
“As a board, we strive to achieve best-in-class governance practices, including establishing a lead independent director role to ensure independent decision making and functioning of the board,” Anderson said.

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