The Entertainer Appoints Craig Inglis Chief Customer Officer

TEAL Group, the parent company of The Entertainer, has appointed Craig Inglis as its new Chief Customer Officer.

TEAL Group operates both The Entertainer and separate toy retailer Addo Play, both of which Craig will oversee in his role.

Taking effect from 7 September, Craig will be responsible for leading all customer, marketing, licensing and brand building activity across the brands.

Commenting on his appointment, Craig says: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining The Entertainer. It’s hard to imagine a more fun sector to work in. I’m really looking forward to being part of a brilliant team and helping to unlock all of the potential ahead. I can’t wait to get started.”

A powerful force in retail marketing

“Craig is a hugely accomplished customer, marketing and brand leader and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure him as part of the team navigating the business through this new era and our next phase of growth,” comments TEAL Group Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Murphy OBE.

Craig has established a successful career in retail marketing, following multiple leadership roles.

Craig served for over a decade at John Lewis, spending two years as Head of Brand Communications, seven years as Director of Marketing and four years as Customer Director.

During this time, he was instrumental in the development and execution of some of John Lewis’ well known and loved Christmas adverts, including ‘The Bear & The Hare’ in 2013.

Craig has also served as Merlin Entertainment’s first ever Chief Customer Officer for nearly two years and was most recently Global Chair of The Marketing Society.

Bringing over two decades of retail leadership experience to the role, and serving at The Entertainer as strategic advisor for the last four months, has equipped Craig for an exciting future with the toy retailers.

TEAL Group’s transformation plan

Craig’s recent Group-wide role will see the organisation unify its approach to customers, brand and marketing across the organisation for the first time.

The Entertainer and Addo Play became employee owned just over a year ago and customer insight now plays a centralised role in shaping business strategies and everyday commercial decisions.

Craig adds: We have an incredible opportunity not only to understand and serve our customers better, but to champion the importance of play and bring more of it into people’s everyday lives – from building distinctive brands and experiences to creating exciting new partnerships and finding new ways to connect with customers.”

Due to The Entertainer’s rapid growth across Great Britain, and possible plans for a global expansion, the Group’s new direction represents ambition within the brands.

Integrating all the companies within Craig’s new role also ensures equalised market impact for the Group’s proprietary brands: Meccano, Early Learning Centre, Snuggle Buddies and Addo Play.

Who are TEAL Group’s biggest partners?

• Tesco – Tesco is the UK's largest supermarket chain, and The Entertainer (owned by TEAL Group Holdings) has a long-standing partnership with it, operating Early Learning Centre concessions inside Tesco stores in Ireland. This tie-up has helped expand The Entertainer Group's reach across the UK and Europe, complementing similar retail partnerships with Matalan and M&S under the group's broader growth strategy. 
• Marks and Spencer – Early Learning Centre (part of TEAL Group's Entertainer Group) partnered with Marks & Spencer in 2023, joining as a "guest brand" on M&S's website and app. Over 200 ELC toys – from cash registers to pirate ships – sit alongside M&S's kidswear and gifting ranges, part of M&S's "never the same again" online growth initiative. 
• Matalan – The Entertainer partnered with Matalan in September 2018, opening in-store toy concessions branded "Totally Toys" across 59 Matalan locations. The tie-up let Matalan customers shop The Entertainer's toy range – including exclusive Addo and Early Learning Centre products – alongside their regular clothing and homeware purchases.