The CEO to Hasbro, Brian Goldner, has passed away today—just two days after taking a leave of medical absence. He was aged 58.
The exact cause of death was not disclosed. However, a closer look into Goldner’s medical history should infer the cause of his passing. Going back 2014, the then-CEO of Hasbro was being treated for an uncertain form of cancer.
In his demise, Goldner is being replaced by Rich Stoddart who is currently playing the role of interim Chief Executive Officer. But prior to the original CEO’s death and the former taking a hold of the position, Goldner already gave his blessing. “Hasbro’s future couldn’t be brighter,” he claims.
A beloved figure
With his passing, Hasbro recalls Goldner as a “visionary” and the company’s “heart and soul”. He is also known for his outstanding character whose “leadership, kindness, and generosity made him beloved” by those around him.
— Hasbro (@Hasbro) October 12, 2021
More than just holding a very high position in a known world-class company, Brian Goldner’s presence in the industry is noteworthy. In 2000, he joined Hasbro at the time was a company that’s struggling to keep itself afloat. Eight years thereafter, he rose to become the enterprise’s CEO where he became critical in the company’s return to the limelight. Primarily, following the Transformers franchise’s Hollywood movie adaptation, which spanned multiple installments in the succeeding years.
Rise of other franchises
Not only did the revival of Transformers become pivotal in the company’s significance in the entertainment space, Goldner also helped bring other franchises to life, too. One is the My Little Pony, which soared into popularity by around mid-2010s. Additionally, it’s also through him that publisher Wizards of the Coast became a division of Hasbro and not merely a subsidiary to it.
Hasbro, however, is also at its core a toy and games business company from the very beginning. Bringing toys and games for kids in the market, based on known franchises, including its own IPs. To date, the company has a portfolio that spans a total of 1500 brands.
Latest venture
The enterprise’s growth also included a venture into another area of the business. This manifested in 2019 after Hasbro acquired eOne, a media company that generates and distributes movies and shows. Some of the media business’ successful projects include launches for longstanding TV series, The Walking Dead and Grey’s Anatomy. For movies, it’s credited for Love and Monsters, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and the up-and-coming 2022 Dungeons and Dragons movie.
Meanwhile, outside of Hasbro, Goldner was known to serve as one of the board of directors for ViacomCBS.
Image used courtesy of CNBC Television/YouTube Screenshot