Hot Wheels is one of only two Mattel brands which grew (others shrunk big time), yet they have had a curiously disproportionate share of layoffs, firings, reorgs, people resigning, and general turmoil over the past year. Who is calling the shots? It's hard to keep track of who's left over there, I don't recognize any classic faces anymore.
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HW is rocking! Down is a brilliant leader. Period. Lots of bitter, angry folks on this site. Numbers are showing the truth.
So who IS in charge?? Mess.or not, I just want back in
HW is a mess. Leader is not fit to run a brand. Dickson's experiment to put designers in charge of Barbie and Hot Wheels isn't working because neither leader has the experience to plan strategy - it's not a design issue but relevance issue. HW design VP quit on him. Rest of team either left or is leaving because he can't provide direction. They need good leaders or Mattel will be even further behind. You could fire the GMs of Barbie and HW tomorrow and it wouldn't be a loss, except there are few ready to take over. Succession planning has become an issue with everyone quitting.
Why are you saying its a mess?
No more classis faces cause they all chose to leave by choice of course. To retire early before they hit their mid fifties is a very common practice at this iconic toy company. Absolutely no AGE DISCRIMINATION practiced here. It's just a coincidence that all other brands have also lost most everyone above the age of 55. The strange exception is VP level and above. For some strange reason they just stay on and on and on. It must be so reassuring for all the, post March '15, "new" young hires that Mattel judges you only by your value to the company....not your age or how much you add to the expense column. HR at its absolute best. And if you doubt that there might be a smidgen of AGE DISCRIMINATION at Mattel, the severance package employer/employee agreement clearly states that that is not the case. Please make sure to sign first so that you can receive your money.
Hot Wheels is a mess