Gerry was among a number of winners during the Toymaster May Show awards evening
The BTHA presented a Special Recognition Award to Hasbro’s Gerry Heeley last night at the Toymaster May Show awards evening.
The award recognises loyalty, long service, commitment, and dedication by individuals within the toy industry.
Roland Earl, Director General, BTHA presented the honour, saying: “Special recognition awards are for special people – and that is no exception tonight. He’s special, and this award marks a lifetime of amazing contributions to the world of toys.”
Joe Havenhand-Beal, Senior Director UK and Ireland at Hasbro, and Gerry’s award proposer, said: “Gerry is one of the best men I have ever met, and a man I am enormously proud to call not just a colleague but a friend. Gerry is fair, honest, authentic and persuasive, he embodies all of the qualities you could desire and has always put the best interests of his account and his employer on a level playing field, never sacrificing one for another. Where many in the industry have come and gone over the last 44 years, Gerry has been an ever-present voice at the table for independent toy retailers and distributors, who have remined the beating heart of the industry.”
During a career which has spanned more than 44 years, Gerry joined Milton Bradley in January 1982 as the first Irish sales team member where he quickly opened the very first Smyths Toys account for board games. Milton Bradley was then acquired by Hasbro four years later where he continued his roles in Irish sales but with a focus on games. He has skilfully taken on various sales roles for Hasbro across UK and Ireland ever since.
During the evening, the Toymaster team also presented a number of awards, voted on by members, to recognise individuals and companies that go above and beyond in support of the buying group and its members.
Among the winners were David Livingstone, named Sales Agent of the Year, Asmodee, which took home the title of Supplier of the Year, and a Special Recognition award for Banaghans.
