Games and toys have had a profound impact on many gamers’ development as children, and they continue to hold a special place in their hearts as they grow older. Hasbro, one of the companies responsible for turning many popular franchises into figurines, such as Star Wars, Transformers, and My Little Pony, has provided people with entertainment for many years.
Unfortunately, Hasbro’s CEO, Brian Goldner, died at the age of 58. Goldner joined the company in 2000 and was promoted to CEO in 2008. Goldner resigned from the company two days ago to take medical leave. For those who are unaware, Goldner announced in 2014 that he was suffering from Prostate Cancer complications and has been undergoing treatment ever since.
May he rest in peace. https://t.co/hZ3fXfvtEY
— Anime News Network (@Anime) October 13, 2021
Rich Stoddart, one of Hasbro’s board directors, has since been named interim CEO. Stoddart stated in a public statement to Businesswire that Goldner was the heart and soul of Hasbro. He emphasizes that Goldner was influential in the industry and brought joy and laughter to many children all over the world, and that he will be greatly missed.
Stoddart credits Goldner with helping the company grow into the global entertainment powerhouse that it is today. Goldner oversaw Hasbro’s 2019 acquisition of the entertainment studio “eOne,” whose goal is to bring innovative ideas to the world. Goldner also served on the ViacomCBS Board of Directors as the Chair of the Compensation Committee. His goal at ViacomCBS is to improve care systems for society’s most vulnerable members.
The president of the game company Wizards, which is responsible for Dungeons and Dragons games, also stated on the company’s Twitter account. He shared Goldner’s belief that games can make a positive difference in the world for children and families in it. Cocks believes that those who had the opportunity to work with Goldner will be grateful for his mentorship, wisdom, and unwavering positivity.
Goldner has had a significant impact on the industry, even outside of Hasbro. He was universally respected in the industry as someone who deserved to be respected after more than two decades of influence. His drive for creativity and leadership is something the world desperately needs and will be difficult to replicate. Goldner is remembered fondly by his coworkers, friends, wife, daughter, and other family members.
