Veteran Toy Industry Executive Joins to Fuel Growth,  Lead Retail Expansion in Children’s Books and Toys

Chicago, IL  – Cottage Door Press, tCottage Door Press has hired Sean Hynes as Executive Vice President of Sales.

The move comes as the company officially enters the toy aisle with the launch of Luna StoryTime Projector, a magical 3-in-1 device that turns storytime into an immersive, screen-free adventure to inspire a love of reading in young children.

Hynes joins Cottage Door Press with more than 30 years of experience driving sales growth and innovation in the toy and consumer products industries. As EVP of Sales, Hynes will leverage his strategic insights to strengthen the company’s market position, grow retail partnerships, and launch new product lines.

“We’re excited to begin this new chapter at Cottage Door Press with Sean, who brings exactly the kind of experience and passion we need to carry our mission forward – beyond bookshelves and into toy aisles,” said Dick Maddrell, CEO and founder of Cottage Door Press. “With his proven track record, deep understanding of growing beloved brands and building strong retail partnerships, we’re poised to instill a lifelong love of reading – and foster meaningful family connections – in even more children and families across the country.”

He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Sales at VTech, a world leader in electronic learning products for children. Under his leadership, the toymaker expanded its footprint in the infant, toddler, preschool and licensed toy categories with its educational toys and was recognized with multiple Vendor of the Year awards from major retailers. Hynes also spearheaded the company’s acquisition of LeapFrog Enterprises, successfully integrating sales and operations.

Prior to VTech, Hynes also held senior leadership roles at Bandai Namco Toys, Irwin Toy, Hedstrom Corporation and American Greetings, where he consistently delivered sales growth, launched high-impact licensing deals and led cross-functional teams across sales, marketing and operations. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Illinois State University and earned his MBA from Lewis University.