DICKSON
Richard

Richard Dickson is President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel.

Career

He first joined Mattel in 2000. In his role, Mr. Dickson leads Mattel’s portfolio of global brands, overseeing innovation strategy, design and development, and brand marketing. Mr. Dickson also oversees franchise management, which includes licensing and merchandising, episodic content, live events, and digital gaming.

During Mr. Dickson’s tenure, Mattel has grown some of the world’s most powerful and purpose-driven brands. Among these are Barbie, the most diverse line of fashion dolls and the brand that inspires the limitless potential in every girl, and Hot Wheels, an ever-changing line of vehicles that encourages the challenger spirit in every child.

Under Mr. Dickson’s leadership, the company developed and launched the Mattel Playbook, a brand-building approach that has been instrumental in driving the turnaround and growth of Mattel’s Power Brands. In 2022, Barbie was the #1 doll property globally, Hot Wheels was the #1 vehicle property globally, and Fisher-Price was the #1 Infant, Toddler, and Preschool property globally, per The NPD Group.*

Previously, Mr. Dickson was President and CEO of Branded Businesses for The Jones Group, Inc., a leading portfolio of fashion brands. In this role, he led global design and development including marketing and merchandising, wholesale, retail and E-Commerce for the Jones portfolio, reinvigorating dated fashion labels into powerful fashion brands and acquiring and developing new brands, which he then sold to private equity.

Prior to Jones, Mr. Dickson spent 10 years at Mattel in senior management positions. In his role as General Manager and Senior Vice President for Barbie, Mr. Dickson led a global revitalization of the iconic Barbie brand, including a new identity, product innovation, designer collaborations, content, global events, and distinctive retail. Earlier, as Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Media and Entertainment for Mattel, Mr. Dickson was responsible for building franchise strategy for Mattel properties, creating multi-year deals with leading entertainment companies, including CAA and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, and evolving Hot Wheels® and Fisher-Price® beyond toys into lifestyle brands.

Prior to joining Mattel in 2000, Mr. Dickson spent more than a decade in various roles at Bloomingdale’s before co-founding Gloss.com, the first online retailer dedicated to high-end cosmetics. Gloss.com was acquired by Estee Lauder Companies in 2000.

Education

Mr. Dickson received a bachelor’s degree from The University of Maryland and completed the UCLA Anderson School of Management executive program. He is a member of the Board of Directors at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Gap Inc., and serves on the Board of Advisors for The Robert H. Smith School of Business at The University of Maryland.