Jeff Pinsker Named President of Klutz® and VP, Scholastic Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEFF PINSKER NAMED PRESIDENT OF KLUTZ® AND VP, SCHOLASTIC INC.
New York, NY (October 22, 2012) — Ellie Berger, President of the Trade Publishing division of Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), announced today that Jeff Pinsker has been named VP, Scholastic Inc., and President of Klutz, the highly innovative imprint for “books plus” for children, and a division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company. In this position Pinsker will lead the creative, sales, and marketing direction of the Klutz business and will manage the strategic development of the Klutz brand. Pinsker will assume his new responsibilities December 3, 2012, and will report to Berger.
Most recently, Jeff Pinsker was the CEO of INFINITOY, an educational toy company that acquired the rights to ZOOB®, a unique construction toy line, and launched QUIZMO®, a hand-held electronic quiz game. He has authored 13 books, including the QUIZMO Series and entries in Spinner Books’ Armchair Puzzlers Series. Prior to Infinitoy, Pinsker was President & CEO of JP Kids, a leading independent children’s media company, and served as President of University Games, one of the US’s leading board game companies, where he created and produced more than 150 games.
“I am very excited to have Jeff join the talented and infinitely creative Klutz team,” said Ellie Berger. “Jeff’s diverse background in children’s game development, toys, and publishing makes him perfectly suited to build on Klutz’s rich history of tactile innovation and fun, and to explore both print and digital opportunities for the brand as Klutz moves forward.”
“This is a once-in-a-career chance to work with a unique brand and a gifted team to make products that get kids to read and create,” said Jeff Pinsker. “Klutz’s brand and Scholastic’s resources provide tremendous opportunities at the intersection of books, crafts, activities, toys, and fun. My life and career have been built on play—Klutz’s products, people, and environment make it the perfect place to continue this path.”
Pinsker began his career as CEO of Amazing Events, a corporate event and practical joke company. He has served on numerous boards, including Infinitoy, University Games, Stanford University Hospital’s The Health Library, Educational Direct, Yoga Tales, The New Curiosity Shop, ePlay, and a retail clothing chain.
His volunteer activities have included Big Brothers, The Health Library, Special Olympics, Stanford Alumni Mentoring, Stanford Fundraising, Rebuilding Together, and volunteering in local schools.
Jeff Pinsker holds a master’s degree and two bachelor’s degrees from Stanford University. He currently sits on the Steering Committee of the Stanford Alumni Association Bay Area Entrepreneurs Group.
About Klutz
Based in Palo Alto, California, Klutz® is the creator of kids activity products including books, kits and other stuff that stimulate kids’ growth through creativity. Klutz products combine clear instructions with everything you need to give kids a hands-on learning experience that ranges from the artistic to the scientific and beyond. Founded in 1977, Klutz has been engaging kids for 35 years with such popular products as Cat’s Cradle®, Face Painting, Friendship Bracelets, Juggling for the Complete Klutz, and The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes. Today, more than 150 100% KLUTZ Certified® products are sold in book, toy and gift stores worldwide. Klutz is a division of Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books.
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality books, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The Company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.
Contact:
Tracy van Straaten
Vice President of Publicity
Children’s Book Publishing
Scholastic Inc.
212-389-3782 • tvanstraaten@scholastic.com
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