Movers and Shakers highlights the career advancements and accomplishments of high-level trailblazers working professionally in diverse areas of standardization, contributing every day to the strength and success of the U.S. standards and conformance community.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has appointed Andrea Durkin as its new vice president of international policy.
Durkin is the former assistant U.S. trade representative for the World Trade Organization (WTO) and multilateral affairs, for which she was responsible for trade negotiations and U.S. policy coordination regarding matters before the WTO. This included the operation of various WTO committees related to subsidies, technical barriers to trade, customs/trade facilitation, and other subject areas.
During her career, Durkin spent nearly two decades in the private sector as an entrepreneur, author, and corporate government relations executive, with experience serving in Democratic and Republican administrations. She was also the U.S. senior official for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Trade Committee G7 and G20 trade tracks. Prior to this, she served in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
“Andrea brings a wealth of expertise to the job, with more than three decades of service in both the public and private sectors. As a leader in international trade negotiations, her deep understanding of international policy will enhance the NAM’s strategic objectives significantly as we continue to build off of successful engagements with our counterparts across Europe and the North American continent,” said NAM president and CEO Jay Timmons. “As manufacturers in America look for new ways to reach global markets and the 95% of customers that live outside the borders of the United States, Andrea is set to lead an ambitious expansion of the NAM’s international policy operation.”
The Toy Association has appointed Greg Ahearn as its president and CEO, effective June 1. For his new role, Ahearn will preside over the company’s key objectives, including industry trade shows and events, regulatory affairs and representation, toy safety and ethics initiatives, and member education, in addition to consumer outreach activities. His role also includes partnership with The Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the organization.
Ahearn has held positions spanning across advertising, digital media, manufacturing, ecommerce, and the toy industry. Prior to The Toy Association, he served as a strategic advisor for Readyland, the president and chief strategy officer at Davis Elen Advertising, and the head of marketing strategy and creative for Uber North America. He was also the chief marketing officer and general manager of global e-commerce for LeapFrog, and for more than a decade, he served as the chief marketing officer and general manager of global ecommerce for Toys “R” Us.
"This is an amazing moment to continue elevating and uniting the toy industry to optimize our greatest opportunities and meet our biggest challenges together,” said Ahearn. “Having first-hand experience at both emerging toy companies and large global corporations involving almost every aspect of the toy business, I am looking forward to bringing a fresh, well-informed perspective as we build on and develop new ways for The Toy Association to bring value to its members.”
“For over 100 years, The Toy Association has played the role of protectors and evangelizers of our industry, promoting the pivotal role of play. We believe Greg’s diverse and multi-decade toy background in senior roles across top manufacturers and retailers has built a valuable, trusted, and far-reaching network of relationships that will further the Association’s objectives both now and as they continue to evolve,” said Sharon Price John, president and CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop and newly appointed chairperson of The Toy Association board of directors.
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