I may stop commenting on this blog as my comments are getting edited/altered as a comment did on the latest Prediction thread. Not sure why because I said nothing vulgar or slanderous. Why comment if it gets altered by someone? Evilynn was a non drawing so called designer unlike other young Barbie designers that graduated as Fashion Majors but she had absolutely no business on the Marketing side. Not even sure how she got but that was during the Kilpin rule where nothing made sense here. Monster High saved his ass for at least 3 years. Evilynn launched NeverAfterNigh, that was all her.
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Evelyn didn't lead the brand at all while Richard was around - it was Richard leading the brand. Don't kid yourself for a second. Evelyn is a designer - she doesn't have the horsepower to lead the brand, and so while she may have had the title, she was never qualified to actually lead the brand, and on her watch, the brand cratered for 4 years before slightly pushing up - what we don't know is if Barbie sales are up because Richard stuffed retailers with enough product to make the numbers look good, but not Q1...
During the Investor's Conference Call Dicko was saying Barbie sales were going in the right direction. Now Evelyn has been canned. If the brand was doing as well as Dicko told the investors why would he fire the person leading the brand? Was he lying to the investors?
She is gone. Confirmed.
She is not evil, but unfortunately not very smart. She's very nice, but should never have been in charge of Barbie, much less all Girls. Giving her control over both Design and Marketing was a joke, and I think most people saw the writing on the wall. Giving KC any control was also a poor idea; she's a cancer on the brand and should be let go vs. moving her to another area. Just because you're gay doesn't give you freedom to act like an asshole to everyone - Gender, sexual orientation shouldn't matter if your a shitty boss and not smart. KC is both and also needs to go.
First Voss, now Evelyn. Good to see that while it's taking them a while, they're finally starting to clean house and get the bad ones out. Now let's see how long KC, CD, TW last in their roles before they're also asked to go.
So, what's the word out in ES about EV. Is she toast?
The last comment prior to this one is not quite correct but somewhat true as no one place is perfect. However, I know several ex MattHell Product Designers & Marketing people who are now at Lego & HB where they tell me the leadership is totally much better with minimal interference as upper management trusts people with their talents going forward and this is showing in their stock value. After surviving at MattHell for many, many years I saw the so called leadership get from bad to worse. Their bed is made, now they must sleep in it. I got out just in time as things continue to get worse.
Much of the leadership are a bunch of entitled twats who think of only themselves and their self inflated egos. When one falls we all celebrate. screw them/you.
Harsh words about much of the leadership here. I'm sure most of the folks complaining would find the same things/people to complain about no matter where they went.
Evilynn wasn't evil until you dared not to agree with one of her 3rd last minute subjective changes & spoke your opinion as a competent designer. I was there & saw it happen with my own eyes/ears. She turned into Medussa when the designer articulated her direction & it wasn't in a argumentative tone or manner which I've done countless times & kept my original direction intact after justifying my direction either having to do with play pattern or prohibitive costing. She cut this person at her knees in a very uncomfortable/embarrassing manner. Evilynn was no Mother Teresa, so yeah,.......... screw her.
Screw her. She rode the failure train for a lot longer than should have been allowed and was a major part of this toxic culture. Of course she's going to wind up being an SVP at Hasbro when we merge but for now I'm happy to see the old goat gone.
She is definitely not evil. These comments seem extremely harsh, and I'm guessing made by someone who's never worked for her. She may not have made the best choices, especially in whom she chose to groom (PH, KH, KC). But she has a great instinct for good toys. I think her failing lately was being too far removed and allowing immature management beneath her to make all the decisions. Plus, having the added responsibility for marketing may not have been a good fit for her. One thing to note: as soon as she put KC in the VP role, a lot of people left the brand, I think we're up to 11 or 12.
OP, why so vile?
Sure, throw your anger towards a woman who gave over 20 years of her life to Mattel. Spent most of her waking hours trying to help the place succeed. Some of the choices she made might not have had the best outcome but who can claim 100 percent success? She doesn't deserve the hate. She's a smart, caring and good person. Whoever the incredibly ignorant small minded person who spews this crap is, take a look at yourself first. I bet you're not so wonderful!