ceo resigns:Mattel CEO Jill Barad resigns
NEW YORK (AP) - Jill Barad, who made Barbie into a selling sensation
and helped build Mattel into a corporate powerhouse, has stepped down
from the helm of the world's biggest toymaker after failing to revive
falling sales and profits. Barad resigned Thursday as the El Segundo,
Calif.-based company reported a steep loss for the fourth quarter,
disappointing Wall Street analysts for the third time in the past four
quarters. Barad, 48, one of the highest ranking women in business, was
under intense pressure from investors and Mattel's board of directors to
explain big losses at the company's newly acquired Learning Company
software division and other troubles at Mattel. With her resignation, the
board of directors will take charge of the company to oversee operations
and search for a new chief executive officer.