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Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner, 58, passed away earlier today, just two days after taking a medical leave of absence. Goldner joined Hasbro in 2000, became the CEO of Hasbro in 2008 and its chairman in 2015. He was instrumental in transforming Hasbro from just a toy company to an entertainment company. While his cause of death has not been officially announced, he had been battling with cancer during the past decade. He was preceded in death by his son Brandon. He is survived by his wife Barbara and his daughter Brooke. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his co-workers.


Brian Goldner at Charity event for Transformers Movie alongside Tyrese Gibson and Rachael Taylor

On a personal note, I first met Brian Goldner at Toy Fair 2007 when he was the COO of Hasbro. It was the first time that Transformers Movie products were being revealed. It was also a big week because there was also an industry screener in New York City hosted by Dreamworks and Michael Bay that featured about 20 minutes of the Transformers movie. A couple of months later, Brian personally called to invite me to the premiere of the Transformers Movie in 2007 at a Hasbro Children's Hospital charity event in Providence, Rhode Island. I was very honored and humbled that he had reached out to me so that I could experience the special event and cover it for Seibertron.com.

When I saw him at BotCon 2007, he came up to me while I was photographing the new Transformers movie toys and products at the Hasbro booth. During our conversation, his daughter Brooke came up to him. He introduced me to her as "Ryan, the owner of the Transformers fansite Seibertron.com". His daughter smiled, and said "Seibertron.com? That's the website you are on every night before you go to bed!" We both had a laugh at his daughter innocently outing that he was checking out Transformers coverage on Seibertron.com (presumably to keep his finger on the fan pulse pertaining to the movie) and that moment has remained one of my favorite Seibertron.com memories over the years. It was an honor to know that he was checking out Seibertron.com.


Brian Goldner alongside a Transformers Movie Bumblebee toy at Toy Fair 2007

Brian Goldner was one of the first people from Hasbro to personally reach out to me. He was sincere and helped me feel special about Seibertron.com. It was an honor to have met him. Thanks for all you did for all of us, Brian.

On behalf of the entire Seibertron.com family, we extend our condolences to those closest to Brian Goldner.

Just tragic. Sounds like he'll be irreplaceable on both a human level and a business one. Condolences to his friends and family and thanks for sharing your story, Ryan.

Emerje

Not to worry folks - Brian got to the afterlife and he's doing just fine...

Cancer sucks. RIP dude. No more pain, rest easy. I'm saddened to see he is preceeded by his son. At least they are together again now.


This is a perfect PSA. This man is the CEO of a major multinational, and we lost him at 58 to cancer; cancer does not discriminate based on income, education, age, race, sexual orientation, skin color, or whatever. Please get yourselves screened regularly. Vast majority of cancers are treatable if caught in the early stages. Even if you are afraid or concerned about going to a health care facility because of Covid, believe me you have a MUCH HIGHER chance of dying from just about any cancer than you do from Covid. If you are due for a regular screening and your facility has shut them down due to spread, GO ELSEWHERE. Get it done. Screenings save lives.

If anyone has questions, talk to your health care provider. Or if you prefer someone faceless, I am a Board Certified Family NP and can provide links to information on screenings (note that I cannot provide actual medical advice, but can tell you where to get accurate medical information on your own so you can make an informed decision).

Not too many people know this but back in 2018 we almost lost my dad to cancer. He had a really treatable kind but while setting up his treatment the tumor ruptured and almost died, cancer is no joke and isn't fun. We all need to remember that right now a wife and daughter are the two loneliest people in the world because their dad isn't coming home.

I met him a Botcon 2007 too, though only in passing. Seemed like a great guy tbh, and more importantly, he seemed like someone who really loved toys, and not just making money like most corporate CEO's. Knowing now that he personally was in here with us, reading along through all the praise and condemnation we levied for/against the brand and products is legitimately humbling to me.

Wish I could say more, but again, I sadly only knew him in passing, and anything more would be disingenuous of me. I will say with confidence that his loss is tragic and will be felt. Hasbro will not be the same without him.

My thought and prayers go to his friends, family, and coworkers.

Never stop playing Brian.

I hope the new one brings back legion class 3" tall. As a collector I had no sympathy for him.

BERSEKAEL wrote:I hope the new one brings back legion class 3" tall. As a collector I had no sympathy for him.

And how about as a human? Do you have any sympathy for him? Or is being a collector of 3" toys more important than someone's life?

Thanks for everything Brian.

May you and your family find peace.

BERSEKAEL wrote:I hope the new one brings back legion class 3" tall. As a collector I had no sympathy for him.

They are already back. Called core class now. This also would not be the purview of the CEO, but rather the brand manager.

To put it in nautical terms, the CEO is the fleet admiral, who answers to the shareholders and board of directors.

The brand managers are the captains of the ships, responsible for navigating their brands through both rough and calm seas.

as a collector myself, I hold a persons life more valuable then toys. Even people I don't like, like many corporate CEO's out there. Looking at you Bobby Kotick. People effect other people, friends, family, co-workers. The loss of a single life needlessly effects a lot more then our fancy pieces of plastic.

You don't have to like anybody. Hell, I KNOW I piss people off. It's an art I would like to think I am good at. So I'm good with anybody hating me personally, or even wanting to dance on my grave. But sometimes there are times and places where sharing that dislike is inappropriate.

Somewhere a YouTube channel that rhymes with the words "Metro Lasting" is throwing a party.

rest in peace brian and thank you

I was skimming through the news & saw Brian Goldner & automatically thought for sure it was gonna be about that new live-action movie. I skipped right by & kept scrolling down. Then I was like "WAIT A MINUTE! What the hell did that just say???" I was shocked. Hasn't he been kicking ass since the 2007 movie? I didn't know he had any health problems. That's horrible news. I don't usually pay attention to many people behind the scenes but I got used to hearing about him through the years. It's gonna be weird to not hear from him anymore. 58 is too young. RIP