What Judd Zebersky’s Exit Means for Jazwares and Its Future
On March 20, 2026, Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO of Jazwares, closing out a nearly 30-year tenure that began not in a toy aisle but on a factory floor in rural China. The company he leaves behind employs roughly 1,400 people and operates in more than 100 countries.
Zebersky took a path that few executives in any industry share. After earning his JD from the University of Miami School of Law and building his own legal practice, he shifted direction in 1997. The reason was personal and simple. “I looked at my wife, and I said, ‘I want to make toys,'” he recalled. “She said, ‘Follow your dreams,’ and that’s what I did.”
A Foundation Built on Firsthand Knowledge
He spent months abroad learning toy manufacturing in person. Zebersky absorbed injection molding, blow molding, and rotocasting techniques. He studied hair rooting processes and engineering workflows. He visited factories in remote corners of southern China, places not found on conventional business travel itineraries. Judd Zebersky was not a founder who delegated manufacturing knowledge; he owned it directly.
Jazwares built its catalog through licensed entertainment properties including Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sonic the Hedgehog before growing through acquisition. Wicked Cool Toys, purchased in 2019, added Pokémon. Kellytoy, acquired in 2020, introduced Squishmallows, the plush line that would define the company’s most visible chapter.
Squishmallows Are Everywhere
The plush toys carry individual names, birthday dates, and personal backstories. They spread virally on TikTok and earned fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. The brand sold more than 100 million units in a single year at prices between $5 and $30, earning Jazwares placement on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list and recognition from Fortune and Fast Company.
Alleghany Capital Corporation invested in Jazwares starting in 2014, eventually taking a majority stake. Berkshire Hathaway inherited that position through its 2022 acquisition of Alleghany. David Neustein, who served as COO for 14 years, took over as CEO on March 23, 2026. Jazwares Cares has distributed millions of toys through Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, Ronald McDonald House, and children’s hospitals. Zebersky and his wife contributed $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Refer to this article for related information.
Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://toybook.com/jazwares-leadership-transition/