BERNARD STOLAR was named president of MATTEL INTERACTIVE, the division that
includes The Learning Company and other software and high-tech products.
Stolar joins Mattel from Sega where he helped engineer the launch of the
Sega Dreamcast video game console in the United States. At Mattel, he will
try to mend the ailing Learning Company division, whose unexpected $105
million loss in the third quarter shocked investors and diminished Mattel's
1999 earnings. Stolar left Sega several weeks before Dreamcast appeared in
U.S. stores after strategy disagreements with the Japanese parent, Sega
Enterprises Ltd. At Mattel, he will also help Mattel chairwoman and chief
executive Jill E. Barad reshape the Barbie and Hot Wheels brands into
broader family products with a stronger focus on educational software and
high-tech, interactive toys.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
