Hallmark Announces New Leader of Hallmark Australia and New Zealand

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Jan 09, 2019, 10:42 ET

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark has appointed Michael Todd as managing director of Hallmark Australia and New Zealand. Todd will be accountable for driving product leadership, growing market share, and building more successful relationships with retail customers in the Australia and New Zealand markets.

Michael Todd, managing director of Hallmark Australia and New Zealand

Todd joins Hallmark with more than 30 years of experience in sales, business and general management roles across the globe spanning Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Most recently, Todd worked as general manager of Global Foodservice Customers for Fonterra, a New Zealand-based multinational dairy co-operative responsible for approximately 30% of the world's dairy exports. He also has experience with a number of consumer goods multinationals including Mondelez, PepsiCo and Amcor Packaging.

"Michael is a strong leader who prides himself on energizing both customers and teams to greater outcomes," said Cindy Mahoney, co-CEO-Hallmark International. "Further, Michael brings vast experience in the global consumer goods market – experience that will undoubtedly serve Hallmark well as we continue our focus on global growth of the Hallmark brand."

"I've long-admired Hallmark as a company that develops products to bring people together and a brand that signals quality and innovation," said Todd. "I look forward to advancing our strong partnership with our retail partners in the Australia and New Zealand marketplace to bring Hallmark products to even more people."

Todd earned a bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of Melbourne. He will be headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

Hallmark Australasia has nearly 700 employees working together in Australia and New Zealand to deliver superior quality products dedicated to providing first class design and innovation. The Australasian group produces approximately one billion cards per year and offers the largest product range in the Australasian market with almost 10,000 designs available every year. Our vision is to create a more emotionally connected world by making a genuine difference in every life, every day.

About Hallmark Australia

In 1955, under the leadership of Mr. T. A. McKay, 'The Specialty Press' based in Little Collins Street, Melbourne, was appointed Australian licensee to Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, USA. The original staff of Hallmark consisted of five people with a range of eight Everyday cards and sixteen Christmas designs.

In 1958, Hallmark introduced the first everyday promotion to be marketed in Australia, 'Elegance in Gold'. By 1960, Hallmark was being distributed through major retailers. The head office and manufacturing plant transferred to one centralised location at 611 Blackburn Road, North Clayton.

In 1979 the company became a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards Incorporated, Kansas City, USA and changed name to Hallmark Cards Australia Limited. Then, in 1994, Hallmark Cards, Inc. purchased the remaining 20% of Hallmark Cards Australia Limited from employee shareholders, and Hallmark Cards Australia Limited became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc.

About Hallmark New Zealand

Originally known as Dawson Printing Company Ltd, the company was founded in Auckland in the late 1920's by a Mr Frederick Dawson. The company was initially located in Upper Queen Street, relocating to premises in Vincent Street during 1933. During the 1950's, the company relocated to new premises, this time in Newmarket. A diversification also saw a new product range emerge - Greeting Cards. Initially, the company printed a brand known as "Polly Anna" but this was later to change when the company was appointed New Zealand Licensee for the American brand - Hallmark.

In 1967 the business was sold to The Specialty Press - a Melbourne based commercial printing company which, like Dawson Printing Company, was a Hallmark Licensee. Then, in 1979, The Specialty Press was bought by Hallmark International, and so Dawson printing became part of the Hallmark family. Later that year, the Dawson Printing Company purchased the Felicity Card Company from the Whitcoulls Group, and having successfully completed the merger, began trading during 1980 as Hallmark Cards New Zealand Limited.

About Hallmark

For more than 100 years, family-owned Hallmark Cards, Inc. has been dedicated to creating a more emotionally connected world. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri and employing more than 30,000 worldwide, the approximately $4 billion company operates a diversified portfolio of businesses. Its global Hallmark Greetings business sells greeting cards and gift wrap in more than 30 languages with distribution in more than 100 countries and 100,000 rooftops. Hallmark Retail operates 2,000 Hallmark Gold Crown stores in five countries and Hallmark Home & Gifts sells a broad array of home décor and gift product throughout the U.S. Crayola® offers a wide range of art materials and toys designed to spark children's creativity around the globe. Crown Media Family Networks operates three cable channels – Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama – in addition to Hallmark Publishing, the e-books division of the Hallmark channels, and Hallmark Movies Now, a subscription-based streaming service. Crown Center is a real estate development company that manages the 85-acre hotel, office, entertainment and residential campus surrounding Hallmark's headquarters. For more information, visit Hallmark.com. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube.