It is with a heavy heart we must report that Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner has passed away today at the age of 58. He had been battling cancer since 2014 and recently took a sudden leave of absence. Mr. Goldner was involved with creating the Hasbro we know today, joining in 2000 and becoming CEO by 2008, transforming the company into an entertainment focused one and reviving core brands – specifically Transformers. His vision and company growth paralleled the revival of Transformers for many of us, he was able to ensure the company could provide nostalgia and freshness at the same time, a difficult feat.
We here at TFW2005 would like to tip our hat to him, thank him for ensuring the fandom had a chance to grow beyond our childhoods. For additional information, please see the below press releases.
• Hasbro Chairman & CEO Brian D. Goldner to Take Medical Leave to Focus on Health
• Hasbro Announces the Passing of Beloved Leader and Longtime Chairman & CEO Brian D. Goldner
Swoop Dogg
Was Brian at any of the Botcons? For some reason, I feel like he stopped by the customizing class at the San Diego Botcon. I'm pretty sure there was a Hasbro executive there, I'm just not sure if it was Brian. Anybody know?
Fafnir72
Rodimus Prime
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CybertronianBoombox
I don't know what to say.
Autovolt 127
I'm still shocked he actually passed away immediately after he resigned. Pulsecon is going to be very somber this year.
RIP Brian Goldner, thanks for making the brand as big as it is now.
AzT
Delzord
This was very said news. RIP Brian Goldner, gone way too soon. My condolences go out to all his friends and family.
AzT
mrstevie18
Spent some time thinking about Brian last night. Considering all the interactions we had, the speeches he gave the Hasbro family and his boundless energy – Especially around the Holidays when the entire company would take a ‘Day of Joy’ and go out into the community to deliver toys, food or clothes to less fortunate children and families.
I remembered the last time we chatted. He asked me how my new gig on Marvel was going (He had this weird gift of seemingly knowing what every member of the company was up to). I told him I loved it but I really missed Star Wars. I remember, he looked me in the eye and said very thoughtfully, “Well… You can’t be Yoda forever Steve”.
Thinking on those last words, I realize he was talking about change.
Change is the nature of things. It is unstoppable. Inevitable. Change is necessary and, while our instinct may be to resist it, it is healthy. Change is life.
And while yes, I do deeply miss some things from yesterday, I must learn from them today and use those learnings to change tomorrow.
I think I’ll do just that…
Cheers BG.
Right….. As promised, we PLAY ON!
BigRed
How about you make a list of all fans that will boycott them if they take down third party toys and send it to them? I'm sure that will make Hasbro think twice about wronging the 3P community.
User_124141
RIP
Sovietbot
Remember BotCon 2012, where for a certain time all the main pages of the third-party goods in the main online stores were removed during this event.
A year ago (2020), just because of their tip, they almost covered the production of my beloved company WJ. Because of this, I almost lost the opportunity to buy M-01 Fire Scorpion (Knightformer OP)!
MetalStorm
Rest in peace, sir. I hope your final moments were peaceful.
Willing to bet the transition to a new CEO will be seamless, and will mostly likely be business as usual for the next few years.
This has to be one of the dumbest posts I've read.
Hasbro, while aware of these parasite brands, has really made no moves against them as it doesn't make much financial sense to pursue companies that barely scratch your profit margin.
And if they did I can almost guarantee you that there would be no boycott. Quite a few pissed off people, but no boycott.
ZapRowsdower
RIP.
Very sad news, though. I hope he went peacefully and did not suffer. Cancer is a terrible disease to battle.
Jacdoprime
May he rest in peace
Hotshotprime43
RIP
Sovietbot
"He lived a warrior… and died a hero. Let his spark join the Matrix, the greatest of Cybertron." (c) BW Optimus Primal. Episode – Code of Hero.
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P.S I hope that the next CEO will not run over and at the same time will not organize crusades against thrid-party and against high-quality KO (including OS with initial fixes).
Otherwise, if this happens, then fans and collectors will tightly boycott their products to CHUG.
AzT
https://twitter.com/Hasbro/status/1448299491958956043
[Wing_Saber-X]
My sincere thanks and gratitude to a remarkable individual. Rest in peace Mr. Goldner…
W-P38
I appreciate that both this website, and TF fans in general, are the kind to take the time to acknowledge something like this. These sudden losses, anticipatable from a diagnostic standpoint or no, are difficult for everyone. My thoughts go to his family, friends, and close colleagues.
Mugenlazlo
He is now in heaven with God and Jesus Christ.