Hasbro CEO listens to fans, becomes CEO of the year

[Roseangelo]

We start with a ToyFare Q&A with Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner.

Some highlights:

How much do you consider the opinions of hardcore fans of the franchise when making decisions for the films?
GOLDNER: The hardcore fans are an integral part of the thought process. ...

Was there any particular fan feedback on the first "Transformers" that you took into account for the sequel?
GOLDNER: ... So what we did is, we focused in on some of those things that the fans told us from a very early stage that they wanted to see in the next movie...

But you guys are paying attention.
GOLDNER: Constantly. And I think what's great about our creative teams, our filmmaking teams is, they get it. They absolutely understand how to strike that balance, and they want to strike that balance and understand the core fan feedback. Because at the very heart, that's the thread that will hold the franchise together forever, if you'll honor that. And then of course, they also are great filmmakers and in their own right they also have the ability to reinvent the brand in a completely unexpected way.

And yes, Mr. Goldner was named CEO of the year by MarketWatch.

I'm willing to bet the editors of MarketWatch don't even know who Gary Richardson is, seeing how he's done all of nothing to earn notice and/or praise.

And this pretty much confirms everything I've been saying about Hasbro not sucking.