Paladone WeCool, a major global consumer products company celebrated for its licensed and proprietary toys, gifts, and creative play merchandise, has announced a key addition to its New Jersey-based U.S. operations. Industry veteran Matthew Lauderbach has officially joined the company as Product Development Director.
Lauderbach brings more than 25 years of extensive experience in toy design and product development to the Point Pleasant team. Over his career, he has held prominent leadership positions with top-tier brands including Fisher-Price, Spin Master, Skip Hop, and Just Play, building deep expertise spanning concept creation, design management, engineering, and commercialization.
Commenting on his new role, Lauderbach expressed enthusiasm for the brand’s popular creative lines:
“I’ve long admired Paladone WeCool’s ability to create products that inspire creativity and encourage hands-on play. I was already a fan of the Compound Kings and iLY Sticker Maker ranges, having seen firsthand how engaging those products can be for kids. The company’s commitment to innovation, quality and product development made this an exciting opportunity…”
Jeff Osnato, president of WeCool Toys—which maintains its headquarters in Point Pleasant—emphasized that Lauderbach’s addition comes at a pivotal moment for the company’s domestic and international growth.
“Matthew brings valuable experience and industry insight to Paladone WeCool at an important time in our growth,” Osnato said. “His expertise across product development will strengthen our US operation and help us continue to deliver products that connect with consumers, retailers and our licensing partners.”
About the companies
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Paladone WeCool: Formed through the combination of Paladone (a global leader in licensed gifts, games, and merchandise) and WeCool Toys (an innovative designer of compounds, crafts, and sensory toys like Compound Kings), the unified enterprise leverages end-to-end capabilities spanning concept design to worldwide distribution across more than 35 countries.
