Hi Greg! We met when you were at BOTI, then you went on to Asmodee in several roles and now you've cofounded Saga Aliiance and acquired Heathside Trading.  What is a common thread in all your roles?

I try to turn great ideas into great products—ideally while working with nice people.

What is it about the Toy and Game Industry that you love?

Creativity, passion, and lack of standardization like in other industries where you have proper schools and degrees to obtain to get the job. It makes our industry more diverse and open to change.

What is your claim to fame?

Other people should answer that one. I would hope my reputation as an honest and passionate person, treating well people should they mean business or not.

What do you feel has been your greatest “win” so far in life? What was your biggest failure?

Having been able to transform my passion: games and entertainment into my job is my greatest professional win. On the personal side having a family is my biggest win (not so easy when you are a massive nerd and Magic the Gathering pro player in the early 90s). My biggest failure is without a doubt having missed the birth of my 3^rd son because I thought it was more important to stay in that big executive meeting 8 hours drive away from home.

What are you still hoping to accomplish?

I would like to succeed in the company we have been launching with my partners and also to have more time for my family.

Do you have a mantra that you live by?

"Be yourself; everybody else is already taken."  -Oscar Wilde

What keeps you up at night?

Joseph, my 4 years old. 😊

Why and how did you get into the Toy and Game industry?

I started playing D&D in 1986 and played soon every day, becoming the President of the RPG Club at my school (very much Stranger Things style). In 1995 I discovered Magic The Gathering and it became my life. I started to compete and win many tournaments. I then got asked to design some TCG and that’s how I entered this industry.

What are you working on now?

As Cube Golem, building the best popculture distribution company in Europe and as Heathside, building a pan-EU pop culture toy manufacturer and distributor.

What has kept you motivated to stay in the toy industry?

I could not see myself doing anything else. It’s more than a job, it’s a lifestyle.

If you look back at yourself 10 years ago is this where you thought you’d be?  Where did you think you’d be? What changed? What went right?

It went all according to the plan... hahaha! No, seriously that’s pretty much what I had in mind, not in detail of course, but globally it went about right. 😊

If we were in a zombie apocalypse, where would you hide?

Where they raise flies. Maggots would eat all the zombies in a month or so. Trust Nature to clean our mess.

What was your favorite project to date?

When I scouted Bakugan before it got even launched in Japan. I negotiated Spin Master distribution in Europe for Upper Deck for Digata Defenders and Stormhawks in order to secure Bakugan when it would be ready.

What trends do you see in toys or games that excite or worry you?

Kidults emerging. I know it’s a trendy word and everyone is starting to be fed up with it. But in reality I always have been a Kidult without even knowing it existed. I read comics in the 80’s, played D&D in my teens years, became a Magic Pro player in mid 90’s, worked in TCG, board games and collectibles all my life and now designing and distributing retro products…I was born old I guess 😊

What advice can you give to inventors who are presenting new toy or game ideas to you?

Understand my company’s limitations and unique positioning and…don’t follow too strictly my wish list and surprise me with something you really believe in, no matter what!

What advice would you give a young adult graduating from high school or college today?

Find what you are passionate about and be ready to take risks to follow your dream. You will, of course, have to pay the price as with any choice in life. The cost will be far lower than doing it later when you have a house mortgage, kids to feed, and a costly lifestyle to maintain/loose.

What advice do you have for people starting in the industry?

Have fun, fail, retry, move on. It’s just a job, it’s not as important as you think.

Do you have a typical workday and how does it play out for you?

Every day is different and that’s what I like the most in my job: I would be a very bad corporate guy with a stable 9 to 5 job.

What’s your workspace setup like?

I spend my time between France and UK and a plane to a fair somewhere in the world, so my workspace is a laptop and a good backpack!

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Working with creative and passionate people.

What and/or who inspires you?

Nelson Mandela, Lee Kuan Yew, Albert Camus and Cioran.

What excites you?

Freedom and potentiality.

How do you define creativity?

The ability to express your vision in a meaningful way to yourself and not necessaryily to others.

How do you define innovation?

The ability to disrupt a model.

Where do you come up with your best ideas?

When talking to people or when traveling.

What blocks your creativity?

Stress and lack of freedom.

How do you recharge or take a break?

I’m an introvert so I need to be alone and do something I like : read, play… without being disturbed.

What words describe how you think or how your brain works?

Intuition, trust, fast.

Were you obsessed with any toys, games or objects as a kid?

Game and watch, then consoles and finally computers.

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

A dog person, definitely.

What’s in your fridge?

Coke Zero, milk and cheese.

What’s the first thing you usually notice about people?

Their smell for sure. I can tell most of the time when someone I know changed their perfume or shampoo. Call me a weirdo, but that’s just true.

What are your favorite books and/or magazines?

Alice in Wonderland.

For a day, would you rather be a hobbit or an elf?

Hobbit without a doubt.

Do you think there are aliens?

It’s statistically certain.

What are your favorite websites?

Science, economics and geopolitical websites: Veritasium, minutephysics, CGP Grey, UsefulCharts…all geeky stuff.

What’s next?

No one knows and it’s perfect that way.

What do you hope your legacy will be?

Having been an honest person who has tried not to be unfair and disrespectful to anyone.

I’m lucky that….

I have a family.

Thank you for taking time to answer our questions thoughtfully and with a sense of play!