Fairfax Financial Holdings announced that Vic Bertrand has joined the company as President and CEO of Toys”R”Us Canada, effective immediately.
Bertrand joins the company with over 30 years of global toy and retail experience, and has also worked with Toys”R”Us Canada as a board member and advisor over the past 18 months.
Over his nearly 30-year career at MEGA Brands, Bertrand managed all aspects of global consumer products while working closely with dozens of leading retailers worldwide. He and his family built the MEGA Bloks brand (MEGA Brands) into a global toy leader. Bertrand joined the company in 1986 and MEGA Brands went public in 2002. Fairfax invested in MEGA Brands in 2008 and the company was ultimately sold in 2014.
“I am very pleased to have such a seasoned toy veteran lead Toys”R”Us Canada as President and CEO, bringing his entrepreneurial passion, global experience and vision to these incredible brands,” said Paul Rivett, President, Fairfax, in an announcement. “Vic’s immediate focus will be the revitalization of the Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us Canada businesses and the re-imagining of our customer experience.”
Bertrand said, “In 1986, when my father made his first journey into international sales from Canada, it was Charles Lazarus [Toys”R”Us Inc. founder], who noticed his tiny display in a crowded showroom and gave my father his first international order.
“It’s an absolute honor to join the Toys”R”Us Canada team and to partner once again with Fairfax for this exciting new chapter,” said Bertrand. “While the company currently enjoys a strong leadership position in the Canadian marketplace, I believe we can be so much more to kids and Canadian families.”
