Topps names new Vice President for Digital

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

Topps will have a new leader in its efforts to bring trading cards and confections to the digital world, according to an announcement made Tuesday.

It has appointed former Nokia product director Michael Bramlage as its Vice President, Digital. He will oversee and develop Topps’ digital strategy and report to CEO and President Ryan O’Hara.

“Michael’s terrific background in the mobile, Internet and social spaces combined with his innovation bent and strategies for developing online content makes him an ideal fit at Topps,” O’Hara said in a prepared statement. “We’re excited for Michael to join Topps and take us to the next level in delivering our consumers new and innovative experiences.”

According to Topps, while at Nokia, Bramlage oversaw planning, design and development for its Ovi Store, what the company says is the world’s third-largest mobile application storefront. He also oversaw products and, according to Topps, grew Nokia’s business in just two years to more than six million downloads a day.

Bramlage, a University of Michigan business school grad, previously worked at Microsoft for six years where he did a variety of things, including overseeing product strategy for Windows Live Messenger.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.