ANDRE JAVES DOESN’T HESITATE TO PLAY WITH THE TOYS FILLING HIS OFFICE. AFTER ALL, IT’S ALL PART OF THE JOB. IN BETWEEN, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF TOYS“R”US ASIA IS FOCUSED ON OPENING DOZENS MORE STORES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AS HIS COMPANY CONTINUES TO THRIVE ON IMAGINATION AND PLAY.
Andre Javes admits he’s been known to shoot the odd colleague here or there with a Nerf gun. “I wish I could send you a picture of my office, it’s full of toys. I’m not kidding,” he laughs.
As well it should be, considering Andre’s Hong Kong office is the Asian headquarters of Toys“R” Us. Harboured within is a designated play area specifically designed to road-test new toys in the market, while a further inspection reveals surrounding desks and computers adorned by scores of favorite collectibles.
“You have to love what you do, and you have to love the products,” Andre says. “Toys in themselves are great; they put a smile on your face. It’s fun to be around them. No matter what it is, if it’s slime, or if it’s something more technical, it’s always interesting to me, because it’s a new product and newness is the lifeblood of retailers.”
Spearheading Toys“R” Us Asia has triggered its fair share of challenges over the years as the American, British and Australian stores closed. Andre admits that while Toys“R” Us Asia is a completely separate legal entity and was never part of the bankruptcy process, it was a very confusing time for customers and there was ‘contamination’.
Esta historia es de la edición July 2019 de The CEO Magazine Asia.
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