On March 20, 2026, Judd Zebersky formally stepped down as CEO of Jazwares, closing a chapter he opened in the late 1990s when he left a law career to learn toy manufacturing in Chinese factories. Chief Operating Officer David Neustein, who had served in that role for 14 years, assumed the top position on March 23, 2026.
The transition marks the end of a founding era for a company that now employs approximately 1,400 people and moves products through retail channels in more than 100 countries. What began as a single founder’s gamble on a manufacturing education in rural China became one of the more recognized names in the global toy business.
A Curriculum Built on Factory Floors
Judd Zebersky earned his JD from the University of Miami School of Law and ran his own practice before shifting course. The pull toward consumer products proved decisive. In 1997, with no manufacturing background, he flew to China and spent months learning the mechanics of toy production from the inside injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, hair rooting, engineering design, and quality control.
That foundation informed how Jazwares built its team and pursued partnerships. The company secured licensing deals with Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fortnite, and Pokémon, then expanded its portfolio through acquisitions. Wicked Cool Toys joined in 2019. Kellytoy came aboard in 2020, adding Squishmallows to the lineup. The soft, collectible plush toys went viral on TikTok, with more than 100 million units sold in a year and celebrity fans that included Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian.
Jazwares drew external recognition as it scaled. The company landed on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list, earned a Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators designation, and received a Fortune honor for Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production. Judd Zebersky personally received the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs award in 2024. Read this article for related information.
Learn more about Judd Zebersky on https://www.linkedin.com/posts/university-of-miami-school-of-law_judd-and-laura-zebersky-jd-93-toymakers-activity-7249433715506843648-E0Af