Hasbro Taps Nintendo and Honest Co. Execs for Strategic Board Overhaul

PAWTUCKET, RI – January 20, 2026 – Hasbro, Inc. today announced a significant strategic enhancement to its Board of Directors with the appointment of two industry powerhouses: Doug Bowser, the recently retired President and Chief Operating Officer of Nintendo of America, and Carla Vernón, the current Chief Executive Officer of The Honest Company. The move signals a deliberate effort by the toy and games giant to infuse its leadership with elite expertise in digital entertainment, brand transformation, and e-commerce, directly aligning with its ambitious "Playing To Win" growth strategy.

The appointments come as Hasbro navigates a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape, aiming to expand its reach from 500 million to over 750 million fans by 2027. The company's strategy hinges on leveraging its iconic intellectual properties—such as DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, and TRANSFORMERS—across both physical and digital platforms. The addition of Bowser and Vernón provides the board with seasoned leaders who have direct experience driving growth in precisely these areas.

“We are delighted to have Doug and Carla join our seasoned and dynamic Board of Directors,” said Rich Stoddart, Chair of Hasbro's Board of Directors, in a statement. “Doug and Carla bring extensive leadership experience across consumer brands and franchise management. Their expertise and guidance will be invaluable as Hasbro continues to execute its long-term innovation and growth strategy.”

Bolstering Digital Ambitions with a Gaming Titan

The appointment of Doug Bowser is a clear signal of Hasbro's intensified focus on its digital gaming and entertainment ambitions. Bowser presided over Nintendo of America during one of its most successful periods, a historic growth era propelled by the phenomenal success of the Nintendo Switch console. His leadership also covered the blockbuster launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the Americas in June 2025, a console that set records as the best-selling video game platform in its initial sales period.

His impact at Nintendo, however, extended far beyond console sales. Bowser was a key architect of the company’s evolution into a broad-based "entertainment company with gaming as a nucleus." This philosophy saw Nintendo expand its IP into successful theme parks, blockbuster films, and high-profile merchandise collaborations. Under his watch, Nintendo grew its licensed product business significantly, highlighted by the opening of a flagship store in San Francisco. His experience in expanding a brand's footprint into Latin America, including re-entering the Brazilian market, also offers valuable global market insights for Hasbro.

This expertise directly addresses key pillars of Hasbro's strategy, particularly "Digital & Direct" and "Aging Up," which aims to increase appeal for fans aged 13 and older. With franchises like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering experiencing massive digital growth—the Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming segment saw a 55% revenue increase for Magic in Q3 2025—Bowser’s guidance will be critical. His understanding of how to translate beloved IP into compelling, interactive experiences and build surrounding ecosystems of merchandise and entertainment will be instrumental as Hasbro looks to capitalize on its own rich portfolio. His perspective on the console market complements the existing mobile and online gaming expertise on Hasbro's board, creating a more holistic digital strategy council.

Sharpening Consumer Focus with a Brand Transformation Expert

While Bowser brings digital firepower, Carla Vernón arrives with a formidable track record in transforming consumer brands, optimizing operations, and mastering the complexities of modern retail. As CEO of The Honest Company, she has been widely praised for orchestrating a significant financial and strategic turnaround since taking the helm in January 2023. She successfully implemented measures that strengthened operational discipline and improved profitability, leading the company to record financial performance.

Vernón’s experience is deeply rooted in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and e-commerce sectors. Before joining Honest, she served as a Vice President at Amazon, where she held P&L responsibility for massive consumables categories and was instrumental in driving double-digit growth in its multi-billion-dollar online store. Her deep understanding of supply chain logistics, digital merchandising, and the intricacies of the world's largest e-commerce platform provides Hasbro with an invaluable inside perspective.

Prior to Amazon, Vernón spent over two decades at General Mills, where she built a reputation as a brand-building virtuoso. She was responsible for the growth of iconic household names like Cheerios and Nature Valley and led the company’s Natural and Organic portfolio, making General Mills a leader in the space. Her expertise in what she calls a "stores, doors, aisles, shelves" retail strategy—maximizing product presence and visibility with retail partners—is directly applicable to Hasbro's core business of selling toys and games through a vast network of physical and online retailers. This skill set is crucial for executing the "Profitable Franchises" and "Partner Scaled" pillars of Hasbro's strategic plan.

A Unified Front for the 'Playing To Win' Strategy

Together, the appointments of Bowser and Vernón create a powerful, synergistic leadership team on the Hasbro board. Their skills are not overlapping but complementary, forming a comprehensive strategic brain trust that covers the full spectrum of modern entertainment and consumer goods. Bowser’s deep experience in creating digital ecosystems around major IP is perfectly matched by Vernón’s mastery of brand management, operational efficiency, and the physical and digital retail channels where products are sold.

This dual-pronged expertise is precisely what Hasbro needs to accelerate its "Playing To Win" strategy, which targets mid-single-digit revenue growth and significant operating profit margin improvement through 2027. Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks underscored this synergy, stating, “Doug and Carla bring deep expertise in building iconic brands, creating meaningful consumer experiences, and driving innovation and transformation across their respective industries. Their leadership will be invaluable as we continue to execute our Playing To Win strategy and deliver extraordinary play experiences to fans around the world.”

The timing of these appointments follows a period of strong performance for Hasbro, which raised its full-year guidance for 2025 after a robust third quarter. By bringing in Bowser and Vernón now, from a position of momentum, Hasbro is signaling to investors and the market that it is not resting on its laurels. Instead, the company is proactively equipping itself with the visionary leadership required to cement its position as a diversified, digitally forward play company for the long term. The combined experience of these two new directors provides a significant boost to Hasbro's capacity to innovate and execute across its entire global ecosystem, from the tabletop to the screen and every retail shelf in between.