Thursday, November 7th, 7:00 – 9:30pm
Unraveling the Secrets Of Marketing
For Designers
In The Duncan Anderson Design Department Gallery at California State University, Long Beach
Ned Ward will discuss how to unravel the secrets of working with Marketing; how to speak their language, establishing clear roles & responsibilities and how you can help to manage their input to make for a better partnership, which ultimately delivers better product.
Ned is an accomplished brand marketing and product development expert in the toy field. Ned has 19 years experience in the toy industry with specific expertise in toy development, toy and brand marketing, global promotional partnerships, integrated entertainment development, and content distribution. Company experience includes Mattel, Bandai America, Playmates Toys, and before that, Ned worked as a stock trader at CS First Boston.
Ned is currently Director of Global Promotional Partnerships, overseeing all promotional partnerships for Mattel Brands as well as Fisher-Price.
Previously, Ned was Director of Content Distribution, where he developed a overall multi-platform approach for the expanding content for Mattel’s brands. Ned also served as Director of Entertainment Development for the Boys brands, working with Creative Artists Agency to help pitch theatrical and TV concepts for Mattel’s brands. Ned has also been Director of Marketing for Hot Wheels Collector, Matchbox as well as Director of Marketing for the Disney/Pixar Cars movie brand, from pitching for the brand through the 2007 product line. Ned has also overseen other brands, including the Hot Wheels innovation segments, the launch of Max Steel, and the relaunch of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Ned started his career at Mattel in 1994 as an assistant product manager in Hot Wheels Marketing where he managed Basic Cars and Radio Control vehicles.
Mr. Ward earned a BA in English Literature in 1989 from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in 1994. He is active in alumni interviewing for both schools and has managed the marketing side of Mattel’s summer MBA recruiting for the past 5 years.
For fun, Ned is also the founder and leader of Mattel’s all-employee band, The Toys. In 2011 his band placed third in FORTUNE’s Battle of the Corporate Bands and made it to the Final 8 again in 2012. Ned is also active in local car shows, having restored a 1967 Pontiac LeMans convertible as his daily driver.
To see more of Ned’s interests, please visit:
www.nedorama.com
www.facebook.com/thetoysband
Instagram #nedorama
IDSA-LA 