Alex Thorne is only 13, but he is already retiring from one of the coolest jobs in Canada.
The Pickering, Ont., teen says he had a blast as the Toys 鈥淩鈥� Us toy tester, a gig that comes with the enviable title of Chief Play Officer.
But after more than two years of playing and reviewing the hottest toys on the market, Thorne says it鈥檚 time to focus on high school.
鈥淚 mean, it鈥檚 high school so you really need to buckle down,鈥� he told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview Monday.
Thorne, who is also an actor, will stay on as the company鈥檚 CPO until the end of December, working through one more busy Christmas season. He has already helped Toys 鈥淩鈥� Us compile its annual 鈥渉ot toy鈥� list, which includes everything from interactive Minions to Star Wars blade builders.
鈥淚 have 20 hot toys and they鈥檙e really cool,鈥� Thorne said.
While access to hundreds of cool toys in an obvious draw, Thorne said travelling across Canada has been his 鈥渞eal favourite part鈥� of the job.
He became Toys 鈥淩鈥� Us Canada鈥檚 third Chief Play Officer in August 2013, at age 11. Now, he will take part in selecting his successor, who 鈥渕ust be able to work under pressure and keep their cool and still retain their knowledge of the toys.鈥�
When the company announced its search for the next CPO in August, Thorne said he couldn鈥檛 wait to show the next kid 鈥渨hat it鈥檚 like to have the coolest job in Canada.鈥�
He has already reviewed a number of videos submitted by applicants and will be present for interviews with the top 10 finalists.
鈥淚f anyone out there finds out that they鈥檙e one of the finalists, I鈥檒l be there and I will say hello,鈥� he said.
Once he graduates high school, Thorne said he will focus on his next goal 鈥� becoming the host of a TV show.
