Its founder, chairman and CEO, Russ Berrie, 69, suffered a massive heart attack on Dec. 25 at their Englewood, New Jersey home. Over 7,000 people – including senators, governors and other luminaries in the New York-New Jersey area – attended the memorial service for him held at the John Harms Center for the Arts. Angelica Berrie received condolences from the world over, including two heads of state. While initially reluctant to assume the top leadership role, "so soon after her great personal loss," the company’s board of directors prevailed upon Angelica. The directors believed she would be able to continue to manage the company the "RUSS Way," product lines that touch people’s lives and "Make someone happy," backed by an organization that considers personal relationships as the cornerstone of their success.
The late Russ Berrie lived the great American dream. Starting a company with only a $500 investment and a workshop in a converted garage, he built it into a global, world-class company with over $300 million in annual sales. In 40 years, Russ Berrie and Co. has become the barometer for the retail industry, when it comes to toys and gift items. A few weeks before his demise, Russ Berrie was the resource person for CNN live on the prospects of the gift and retail industry in the US last Christmas season.
Russ met Angelica Urra 12 years ago in the Philippines during a CITEM Gift Fair. Angelica owned Capital Interline, a papier mache export company, the pioneer in papier mache angels. After a two-year courtship, Angelica moved to New Jersey to become his wife.
Known as a workaholic and proud of it, Russ would work almost 24 hours a day. Every moment was an opportunity for him to analyze, review, plan the company’s directions always expecting everyone around him to be as enthused as him. Angelica found herself working with him so they could spend time together.
In spite of the company’s success, Russ was a man who was involved in all aspects of the operations. Even during their regular luxury cruises around the world, he would be in touch with his company through email. Angelica had joined the company in recent years as vice-president for strategic planning, and Russ would often joke her and call her the "She EO."
Aside from her company’s role, Angelica would head all their charity fund-raisers, most of which were dedicated to "compassionate care," the theme for the philanthropy they like to do.
Angelica’s work as chairperson for "The Gilda’s Club," an organization named after the late comedienne and cancer victim, Gilda Radner, had created much impact on the many communities it benefited. The club provides meeting places for men, women and children living with cancer. The non-profit Gilda’s Club offers support and networking groups free of charge to family and friends of cancer victims. To date there are 13 clubhouses worldwide, and they are on their way to their target of 25 facilities worldwide.
Born in Bacolod, and a Mass Communications graduate of Assumption College, Angelica Berrie’s promotion as CEO of the Russ Berrie Co. was a unanimous decision among the top executives of the company because she had been prepared by Mr. Berrie himself for this eventuality. Her promotion was apparently accepted by the public as well, proof of which the Russ Berrie stock in the New York Stock Exchange had maintained its values.
Though Angelica calls her position as "a job I never aspired to" she believes this is the way Russ would have wanted it. And she is committed to moving the company forward.