Aurora World unveils key promotions across company

Aurora World — a company specializing in plush toys, high-quality gift products and brands such as Palm Pals and Miyoni — has promoted Michael Kessler to executive vice president. Kessler began his career in 1984 with Russ Berrie & Co. as a sales rep. Over the course of his 21-year tenure, he received multiple awards and promotions, and advanced through various leadership roles, ultimately serving as senior vice president of sales. He later joined MMPI at the LA Mart as president/general manager before joining Aurora in 2008 as senior vice president of sales and marketing. Since joining Aurora, Kessler has been instrumental in driving significant revenue growth and expanding the company’s market presence, the company said, noting his forward-thinking approach to sales, marketing, licensing and product development has played a key role in positioning Aurora for long-term success. In his new role as executive vice president, Kessler will assume broader executive responsibilities, helping to drive companywide strategy while continuing to lead sales and marketing efforts. “I look forward to working with CEO Henry Gweon and senior vice president of sales Tony Sayles to further elevate the Aurora brand, support the company’s long-term vision, scale core business initiatives, and grow our presence across both new and existing markets,” said Kessler. This promotion reflects Aurora’s commitment to cultivating strong internal leadership and recognizing the exceptional talent driving the company forward.

NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SALES

Aurora World also promoted Tony Sayles to senior vice president of sales. Sayles began his sales career in the consumer products industry with RJR Nabisco before transitioning to the gift and toy industry with Dakin/Applause. He earned several accolades during his tenure, and ascending through the ranks before being promoted to director of sales. In 2001, he joined Russ Berrie & Co. as managing director of sales for Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, where he significantly expanded national accounts and led high-performing field teams through-out his tenure. Sayles joined Aurora in 2009, and has played a pivotal role in ushering the company into a new era of growth. Aurora’s success under his leadership with national accounts and the salesforce has been marked by expanded distribution channels, upgraded sales infrastructure and the transformation of national accounts from non-existent to a major part of the company’s portfolio. “It’s a privilege to step into this expanded role at such an exciting time for Aurora and continue to work closely with CEO Henry Gweon and executive vice president Michael Kessler to grow Aurora even further,” Sayles said. “We have incredible momentum as a company, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our talented team to build on our legacy, strengthen partnerships and seize new opportunities for growth.”