• Hasbro finally named its new CEO, Chris Cocks, to succeed the late, former CEO Brian Goldner, taking over for interim CEO Rich Stoddart
• He is best known for his executive roles on the Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering franchises.
• He will begin his new role as Hasbro’s CEO on February 25.

On Thursday, Hasbro, Inc. (“Hasbro”) named Chris Cocks as the new CEO of Hasbro. Cocks, the former president and chief operating officer of Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming division, taking over from interim CEO Rich Stoddart beginning February 25.

Stoddart, took over as Hasbro’s interim CEO at the end of 2021 after the sudden passing of long-time CEO Brian Goldner. Goldner’s legacy is best known for bringing Hasbro into the entertainment world, as he simultaneously served as an executive producer for the Transformers and G.I. Joe movie franchises.

Hasbro’s portfolio also includes a number of household names, including, but not limited to TV series Peppa Pig and the My Little Pony movie lineup – as well as major brands like Power Rangers, Monopoly, Play-Doh, and Nerf.

Stoddart has served as Hasbro’s independent director since 2014, and will become the toy company’s chair of the board.

Cocks is no stranger to Hasbro, having been with the toy company since 2016, working primarily with the company’s Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Duel Masters franchises. Under Cocks’ leadership, Hasbro has witnessed and generated $1 billion in revenue in 2021 alone, more than doubling its entire margin.

Prior to his time with Hasbro, Cocks led the teams over at Microsoft which primarily focused on MSN and Xbox games including the critically acclaimed Halo and Fable franchises.

“Hasbro has amazing brands, gifted storytellers and unique entertainment assets, and I am humbled to step into the position of CEO at this important time and to build on the strong foundation Brian created,” Cocks said in a statement.

In a statement to CNBC, Stoddart said:

“Having known Chris for years and working more closely with him these last several months, I have no doubt that he will be an extraordinary leader for the next phase of Hasbro’s journey,” Stoddart said in a statement Wednesday.

“A storyteller and gamer at heart, Chris innately understands how to create and nurture brands to drive fan and consumer connection across channels. He is a highly strategic leader, with the vision, skills and experience to unlock our Brand Blueprint for supercharged growth.”

Hasbro also announced the appointment of longtime leader Eric Nyman as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective February 25, 2022, where he will oversee Hasbro’s global business, operational and foundational platform investments, and continue to oversee and lead the company’s overall consumer licensing strategy.

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