Toy industry names new leader

The U.S. Toy Industry Association has a new CEO who brings a unique perspective to an organization whose members account for more than 90% of U.S. toy sales.

Stephen J. Pasierb will join the U.S. Toy Industry Association (TIA) at the end of April as president and CEO. He succeed current President and CEO Carter Keithley who is retiring and will be responsible for leading the growth, development, and oversight of TIA.

The selection of Pasierb is noteworthy because he previously served as president and CEO of Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing substance abuse among adolescents by supporting families and engaging with teens. He assumed the leadership role in 2001 after eight years of working with the organization.

"After serving for nearly 15 years at the helm of the Partnership, Mr. Pasierb has demonstrated highly successful organizational and fiscal management abilities, and is well-positioned to enhance TIA's member services and support," said John Gessert, chairman of the TIA board of directors and president of American Plastic Toys. "His background and talent set are ideal for advancing our efforts in promoting toy safety and elevating awareness of the critical benefits of play in child development. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Pasierb's tremendous experience and talent to TIA."

Prior to his tenure at the Partnership, Pasierb served in the Maryland Executive Department under Governor William Donald Schaefer as manager of marketing and media communications for the Governor's Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission. Before that, he worked as an Account Supervisor and New Business Development Director at Freed & Associates, a Baltimore-based advertising and public relations agency, and Vice President of Media Services at GNVC Communications, a business-to-business communications firm in Pittsburgh.