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{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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==Early life==
==Early life==
Eckert received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the [[University of Arizona]] in 1976, and an MBA in marketing and finance from [[Northwestern University]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://topics.wsj.com/person/E/robert-eckert/723 |title=Robert Eckert – News, Articles, Biography, Photos – WSJ.com |publisher=Topics.wsj.com |date=2002-10-03 |accessdate=2017-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/about/transforming/donors/bob-eckert/ |title=Bob Eckert &#124; Kellogg School of Management &#124; Northwestern University |publisher=Kellogg.northwestern.edu |date= |accessdate=2017-05-02}}</ref>
Eckert received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the [[University of Arizona]] in 1976, and an MBA in marketing and finance from [[Northwestern University]] in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://topics.wsj.com/person/E/robert-eckert/723 |title=Robert Eckert – News, Articles, Biography, Photos – WSJ.com |publisher=Topics.wsj.com |date=October 3, 2002 |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/about/transforming/donors/bob-eckert/ |title=Bob Eckert &#124; Kellogg School of Management &#124; Northwestern University |publisher=Kellogg.northwestern.edu |date= |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Eckert started a 23-year career with [[Kraft Foods]] in 1977, rising to president and chief executive officer (CEO) in October 1997.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/former-mattel-chief-robert-eckert-joins-friedman-fleischer-lowe/|title=Former Mattel Chief Robert Eckert Joins Friedman Fleischer & Lowe|website=The New York Times|date=25 September 2014 |accessdate=2017-07-31}}</ref>
Eckert started a 23-year career with [[Kraft Foods]] in 1977, rising to president and chief executive officer (CEO) in October 1997.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/former-mattel-chief-robert-eckert-joins-friedman-fleischer-lowe/|title=Former Mattel Chief Robert Eckert Joins Friedman Fleischer & Lowe|website=The New York Times|date=September 25, 2014 |accessdate=July 31, 2017}}</ref>


In 2000, Eckert joined [[Mattel]] as chairman and CEO,<ref name="nytimes1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/12/ceo-compensation-11_Robert-A-Eckert_6GNF.html |title=#72 Robert A Eckert |work=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2017-05-02}}</ref> and remained as CEO until December 2011.<ref name="nytimes1"/> He retired at the end of 2011, and was succeeded by [[Bryan G. Stockton]] who had been chief operating officer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111121005952/en/Mattel-Announces-Robert-A.-Eckert-Retire-CEO |title=Mattel Announces Robert A. Eckert to Retire as CEO |publisher=Business Wire |date=2011-11-21 |accessdate=2017-05-02}}</ref> and chairman until December 2012.<ref name="levistrauss1">{{cite web|url=http://www.levistrauss.com/who-we-are/leadership/robert-a-eckert/ |title=Robert A. Eckert |publisher=Levi Strauss |date= |accessdate=2017-05-02}}</ref>
In 2000, Eckert joined [[Mattel]] as chairman and CEO,<ref name="nytimes1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/12/ceo-compensation-11_Robert-A-Eckert_6GNF.html |title=#72 Robert A Eckert |work=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref> and remained as CEO until December 2011.<ref name="nytimes1"/> He retired at the end of 2011, and was succeeded by [[Bryan G. Stockton]] who had been chief operating officer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111121005952/en/Mattel-Announces-Robert-A.-Eckert-Retire-CEO |title=Mattel Announces Robert A. Eckert to Retire as CEO |publisher=Business Wire |date=November 21, 2011 |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref> and chairman until December 2012.<ref name="levistrauss1">{{cite web|url=http://www.levistrauss.com/who-we-are/leadership/robert-a-eckert/ |title=Robert A. Eckert |publisher=Levi Strauss |date= |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref>


In 2004, under Eckert's leadership, Mattel began a seven-year legal war against tiny, California-based [[MGA Entertainment]]. In a surprise defeat, a jury decided that MGA Entertainment was the rightful owner of the once-billion dollar line of [[Bratz]] dolls. A [[BMO Capital Markets]] analyst said the failure to settle will go down as a “tremendously bad decision” by Mattel management. “It means they wasted $400 million or so of shareholder money to get zero return,” he said.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mattel-loses-lawsuit-with-mga-bratz_n_852223|title=Mattel Loses Huge Suit Over Popular Dolls|date=2011-04-21|website=HuffPost|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>
In 2004, under Eckert's leadership, Mattel began a seven-year legal war against tiny, California-based [[MGA Entertainment]]. In a surprise defeat, a jury decided that MGA Entertainment was the rightful owner of the once-billion dollar line of [[Bratz]] dolls. A [[BMO Capital Markets]] analyst said the failure to settle will go down as a “tremendously bad decision” by Mattel management. “It means they wasted $400 million or so of shareholder money to get zero return,” he said.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mattel-loses-lawsuit-with-mga-bratz_n_852223|title=Mattel Loses Huge Suit Over Popular Dolls|date=April 21, 2011|website=HuffPost|language=en|access-date=November 29, 2019}}</ref>


In 2014, Eckert joined the [[private equity]] firm [[Friedman Fleischer & Lowe]] as an operating partner.<ref name="nytimes1"/>
In 2014, Eckert joined the [[private equity]] firm [[Friedman Fleischer & Lowe]] as an operating partner.<ref name="nytimes1"/>
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Eckert was married to Kathie, and they had four children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/A-E/Eckert-Robert-A-1954.html |title=Robert A. Eckert 1954— Biography – Low-profile beginnings, Climbing the corporate ladder at kraft |publisher=Referenceforbusiness.com |date= |accessdate=2017-05-02}}</ref> In June 2017, Eckert and his wife sold their Park Tower condominium for a little over $2.92&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20170606/CRED0701/170609936/former-kraft-mattel-ceo-sells-michigan-avenue-condo|title=Former CEO of Kraft, Mattel sells Michigan Avenue condo|work=Crain's Chicago Business|accessdate=2017-06-06}}</ref>
Eckert was married to Kathie, and they had four children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/A-E/Eckert-Robert-A-1954.html |title=Robert A. Eckert 1954— Biography – Low-profile beginnings, Climbing the corporate ladder at kraft |publisher=Referenceforbusiness.com |date= |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref> In June 2017, Eckert and his wife sold their Park Tower condominium for a little over $2.92&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20170606/CRED0701/170609936/former-kraft-mattel-ceo-sells-michigan-avenue-condo|title=Former CEO of Kraft, Mattel sells Michigan Avenue condo|work=Crain's Chicago Business|accessdate=June 6, 2017}}</ref>


On June 1, 2019, Eckert married Lisa Marie Bongiovanni, a former Mattel communications executive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thegoodbeginning.com/registries/lisa-marie-bongiovanni-bob-eckert/|title=Wedding Registry|work=The Good Beginning|accessdate=2020-12-09}}</ref>
On June 1, 2019, Eckert married Lisa Marie Bongiovanni, a former Mattel communications executive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thegoodbeginning.com/registries/lisa-marie-bongiovanni-bob-eckert/|title=Wedding Registry|work=The Good Beginning|accessdate=December 9, 2020}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 12:45, 13 August 2023

Robert A. Eckert
Born1954 (age 70–71)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Arizona
Northwestern University
Known forchairman and CEO of Mattel, 2000–11
CEO of Kraft Foods, 1997–2000
Titleoperating partner, Friedman Fleischer & Lowe
Spouses
  • Kathie Eckert
  • Lisa Marie Bongiovanni
Children4

Robert A. "Bob" Eckert (born 1954) is an American businessman, chairman and CEO of Mattel from 2000 to 2011, CEO of Kraft Foods from 1997 to 2000, and an operating partner with the private equity firm Friedman Fleischer & Lowe.

Early life

[edit]

Eckert received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arizona in 1976, and an MBA in marketing and finance from Northwestern University in 1977.[1][2]

Career

[edit]

Eckert started a 23-year career with Kraft Foods in 1977, rising to president and chief executive officer (CEO) in October 1997.[3]

In 2000, Eckert joined Mattel as chairman and CEO,[3][4] and remained as CEO until December 2011.[3] He retired at the end of 2011, and was succeeded by Bryan G. Stockton who had been chief operating officer[5] and chairman until December 2012.[6]

In 2004, under Eckert's leadership, Mattel began a seven-year legal war against tiny, California-based MGA Entertainment. In a surprise defeat, a jury decided that MGA Entertainment was the rightful owner of the once-billion dollar line of Bratz dolls. A BMO Capital Markets analyst said the failure to settle will go down as a “tremendously bad decision” by Mattel management. “It means they wasted $400 million or so of shareholder money to get zero return,” he said.[7]

In 2014, Eckert joined the private equity firm Friedman Fleischer & Lowe as an operating partner.[3]

He is a non-executive director of Levi Strauss, McDonald's since 2003, and Amgen since 2012.[6]

Personal life

[edit]

Eckert was married to Kathie, and they had four children.[8] In June 2017, Eckert and his wife sold their Park Tower condominium for a little over $2.92 million.[9]

On June 1, 2019, Eckert married Lisa Marie Bongiovanni, a former Mattel communications executive.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Robert Eckert – News, Articles, Biography, Photos – WSJ.com". Topics.wsj.com. October 3, 2002. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  2. ^ "Bob Eckert | Kellogg School of Management | Northwestern University". Kellogg.northwestern.edu. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Former Mattel Chief Robert Eckert Joins Friedman Fleischer & Lowe". The New York Times. September 25, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  4. ^ "#72 Robert A Eckert". Forbes.com. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "Mattel Announces Robert A. Eckert to Retire as CEO". Business Wire. November 21, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Robert A. Eckert". Levi Strauss. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  7. ^ "Mattel Loses Huge Suit Over Popular Dolls". HuffPost. April 21, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  8. ^ "Robert A. Eckert 1954— Biography – Low-profile beginnings, Climbing the corporate ladder at kraft". Referenceforbusiness.com. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  9. ^ "Former CEO of Kraft, Mattel sells Michigan Avenue condo". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  10. ^ "Wedding Registry". The Good Beginning. Retrieved December 9, 2020.