As we have mentioned before in the past, Wizards of the Coast has done well for themselves recently. Dungeons and Dragons has become popular, and Magic: The Gathering has seen reliable success with its newest sets. Furthermore, their parent company, Hasbro, has pushed forward with new products, not just brand new lines of toys, but leaning further into RPG development. The latter might become more common now thanks to a recent announcements. The Chief Director of Wizards of the Coast, Chris Cocks, has officially been promoted to CEO of Hasbro.
The news broke yesterday in an article published by the Wall Street Journal. According the piece, Cocks will be replacing interim CEO, Rich Stoddart, who took up the role after the passing of Brian Goldner last October. Cocks' new position will be effective February 25, 2022. When asked about Cocks' experience, current Chair of the Board, Tracy Leinbach, gave this statement:
"Chris’s appointment marks the culmination of an extensive and thoughtful candidate review and selection process led by the Board. In Chris, we have chosen a leader uniquely positioned to execute and evolve Hasbro’s Brand Blueprint strategy while continuing to generate growth and deliver strong shareholder returns. Chris’s extensive omni-channel experience and proven track record make him the ideal leader for Hasbro as it continues to become the world’s leading play and entertainment company. On behalf of the Board, we thank Rich for serving as Interim CEO during a difficult time for the Hasbro family and are delighted he will serve as Chair of our Board."
As for Cocks' experience with brand management, a lot of Wizards of the Coast's recent ventures are living proof. He played a hand in the official crossovers between Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons, both the card sets and the adventure books. It was these kind of initiatives that helped WOTC report over $1 billion in revenue throughout 2021.
As for how this change in management will affect Hasbro's initiatives going forward, it is too early to say. But given Cocks' track record and the ongoing revenue and profit that the company has reported, the chances of major changes coming are slim.
