Chris is a 35-year-plus veteran of the toy industry. He has held major marketing and creative positions for toy companies. Since 1988, he has run Byrne Communications, Inc., a consultancy for product development, strategic planning, licensing, and marketing. He has written seven books on the industry and speaks extensively on the role of child development in play and toy design and consults to the investment community in the U.S. and internationally about the business of toys. He appears regularly on Live with Kelly and Ryan and is the creator and co-host of The Playground Podcast, now in its fifth season.

He is the author of Toy Time: A Look Back at the Most Beloved Toys of the 1950s to the 1980s, and his book Funny Business, Harnessing the Power of Play to Give Your Business a Competitive Advantage, has been used in a variety of industries to foster innovation. He is the author of the textbook An Introduction to The U.S. Toy Industry: Serious Fun is used in undergraduate and graduate business programs. The Third Edition is due out in 2023.

He creates and facilitates corporate training programs designed to inspire play and creativity as a springboard to innovation. He speaks internationally, appears on TV around the world talking toys, is featured regularly on Live with Kelly and Ryan, and is the creator and co-host of The Playground Podcast, now in its fourth season. He is also a theater critic in New York, and his book on playwright Terrence McNally is scheduled for release by Applause Books in 2023.