Steve Totzke is stepping down as president and chief commercial officer at Mattel and will be succeeded by Sanjay Luthra, effective May 1.
Luthra, EVP and MD for EMEA and global DTC, will lead Mattel’s global sales and commercial operations going forward, reporting to Chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz, with Totzke continuing as an executive advisor and president of strategic transition through till the end of the year.
“Steve has built a world-class commercial organization, deepened our relationships with retail partners, and expanded our global reach while developing countless team members at Mattel,” Kreiz said. “Sanjay is a Mattel veteran who has steered EMEA’s transformation to achieve record sales and growth during his tenure, and expanded Mattel’s leadership across the region in key categories. On behalf of our Board and everyone at Mattel, we thank Steve for his passion and many contributions, and I am personally grateful for his years of partnership. We look forward to Sanjay’s impact in executing our brand-centric strategy to grow our IP-driven play and family entertainment business.”
Mattel unveiled its e-commerce and DTC businesses under Totzke’s leadership. He has been with Mattel for three decades. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be part of Mattel and an industry I have called home for the past 30 years,” he said. “The pride in what our commercial organization has created with our global partners is matched only by the impact we make on the lives of children and families around the world with our products and experiences. I am pleased to pass the baton to the very capable hands of my partner and friend, Sanjay, and the entire commercial leadership team, and I look forward to seeing Mattel continue to shine.”
Luthra has served as chairman of the board of Toy Industries of Europe for the past seven years. He’s been with Mattel since 2003, starting in India before taking on leadership roles in Eastern Europe and Canada, and then EMEA and the global DTC business. He will be based at Mattel’s headquarters in El Segundo, California. “I have been honored and humbled to be part of this iconic company for the past two decades and across three continents and six countries,” he said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Mattel’s commercial organization into the future. With Mattel’s incredible portfolio of brands, deep partnerships, and a talented team, we are well-positioned to lead the industry in growth, innovation, and impact.”
