Last modified: Monday, February 11, 2008
Mattel, Inc. chairman and CEO to speak in Indianapolis at Kelley School lunch series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 11, 2008
EDITORS: The media are welcome to cover Eckert's speech and Q&A session, but he will not be taking questions from reporters.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Robert A. Eckert, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Mattel, Inc., will speak Feb. 29 at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, One South Capitol Ave. His presentation is sponsored by the Center for International Business Education and Research in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
Robert A. Eckert
Eckert, who has led the the worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of toys since 2000, will speak on the topic, "Toy Recalls: The Impact of Global Business, Culture and Ethics," at a luncheon, beginning at 11:30 a.m. There will be a marketing session before the lunch.
CIBER creates business research and study opportunities for IU faculty and students, allowing the university's graduates and partners to better compete in today's global economy. It is directed by Barbara Flynn, a professor of operations management.
The cost will be $40 for the public and $30 for Kelley students. Online registration is available at https://www.kelley.iu.edu/ciber/Eckert2008registrationform.cfm.
Eckert joined Mattel -- which reports approximately $5 billion in annual sales -- in May 2000 from Kraft Foods, Inc., the largest U.S.-based packaged food company in the world. A 23-year veteran of Kraft, he most recently served as its president and CEO, a position he had from 1997 to 2000. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing all of Kraft's business units and for leading the company's policy decision-making board.
Previously, he served as group vice president of Kraft Foods, Inc., president of Oscar Mayer Foods, vice president of strategy and development for Kraft's grocery products division, vice president of marketing for refrigerated products, executive vice president of Kraft Foods, and general manager of the Kraft Cheese Division. He oversaw the introduction of new varieties of Oscar Mayer Lunchables.
He received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Arizona in 1976 and a master of business administration in marketing and finance from Northwestern University in 1977.
Eckert serves on the McDonald's Corp. board of directors, is on the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management advisory board at Northwestern University and is a member of the board of visitors at the Anderson School at the University of California at Los Angeles. He serves on The Trilateral Commission, is chairman of the board of directors of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, serves on the board of directors of the Business Council in Washington, D.C., and is a member of the Asia Society, the Business Council, the Young Presidents' Organization in Los Angeles and Town Hall Los Angeles.
