Mattel’s Eskridge to Be President of Fisher-Price After Merger

Mattel Inc. said Wednesday that James Eskridge, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer of the El Segundo-based toy maker, would become president of Fisher-Price upon completion of a proposed merger.

In August, Mattel said it had agreed to buy Fisher-Price, maker of preschool and infant toys and juvenile products, in a stock-swap merger valued at $1.1 billion.

The merger is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Ronald Jackson, chairman, president and chief executive of Fisher-Price, would leave his executive post on completion of the merger, but would become a member of the Mattel board.

Michael McCafferty, Mattel’s senior vice president and treasurer, would succeed Eskridge as the company’s chief financial officer.

Terry Crofoot, former president and general manager of KABC-TV Channel 7 who left the station a couple of months ago in a dispute with Capital Cities/ABC management, has resurfaced as vice president of news for Fox TV Stations Inc., which owns KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles. Crofoot, a veteran station executive, will advise and consult the local news operations at each of the eight Fox-owned TV stations.

Consolidating his control of AST Research Inc., Safi U. Qureshey has taken the post of chairman in addition to his titles of president and chief executive, the computer maker said. At the same time, Carmelo J. Santoro, who took over as chairman from Qureshey little more than a year ago, becomes vice chairman of the Irvine-based computer maker. The pair will continue in their roles as the company’s leaders, with Qureshey controlling day-to-day operations and Santoro acting as an adviser.

Countrywide Funding Corp. announced the appointment of Gail Thakarar as managing director of human resources.

Thakarar joined Countrywide as senior vice president of human resources in January.