Stephen Hassenfeld

Stephen D. Hassenfeld (1941 - 1989) was the Chairman and CEO of the Hasbro toy company from 1980 until his untimely death at age 47. He assumed the Presidency of the troubled firm on the death of his father in 1974 and turned the company around by reviving languishing brands such as Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe, acquiring competitor Milton Bradley and introducing the enormously successful Transformers product line. From 1980 to 1986, he increased Hasbro's profitability by 85 percent annually, an almost unprecedented achievement for a Fortune 500 company. Under his leadership, Hasbro surpassed Mattel as the world's largest toy manufacturer. Stephen Hassenfeld addressed the Academy of Achievement at its 1987 gathering in Scottsdale Arizona. In this podcast, recorded on that occasion, he discusses his family's history in the toy business, from the 1920s to his own role as a contemporary leader in the industry. He emphasizes the value of team work, communication and community involvement. Hassenfeld established the Hasbro Charitable Trust and the Hasbro Children's Foundation to manage grant donations, product donation, matching gifts to higher education, special community projects, and volunteering. After his death, the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’Ŵs Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at New York University was named in his honor.