BERNARD STOLAR was named president of MATTEL INTERACTIVE, the division that

includes The Learning Company and other software and high-tech products.

Stolar joins Mattel from Sega where he helped engineer the launch of the

Sega Dreamcast video game console in the United States. At Mattel, he will

try to mend the ailing Learning Company division, whose unexpected $105

million loss in the third quarter shocked investors and diminished Mattel's

1999 earnings. Stolar left Sega several weeks before Dreamcast appeared in

U.S. stores after strategy disagreements with the Japanese parent, Sega

Enterprises Ltd. At Mattel, he will also help Mattel chairwoman and chief

executive Jill E. Barad reshape the Barbie and Hot Wheels brands into

broader family products with a stronger focus on educational software and

high-tech, interactive toys.