Judd Zebersky Shaped Jazwares Through Acquisitions and Vision
When Judd Zebersky acquired Kellytoy in 2020, he added Squishmallows to the Jazwares portfolio at what would turn out to be exactly the right moment. The huggable plush toys, each with a name, birthday, and backstory, were about to go viral on TikTok. More than 100 million units sold in a single year, with celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian drawing even more attention to the line.
It was one chapter in a longer story. Judd Zebersky founded Jazwares after leaving a law practice in 1997, and he led the company until stepping down as CEO on March 20, 2026.
Building a Portfolio Through Licensing and Deals
Zebersky holds a JD from the University of Miami School of Law. He launched a law firm after passing the bar but ultimately chose consumer products over litigation. In 1997, he traveled to China and spent months learning the technical fundamentals of toy production. He studied injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, and hair rooting techniques inside factories across southern China.
“I went to remote places in China on dirt roads where entire families get around on a single motorcycle,” he told Miami Law in 2014, describing the environment where he received that factory-floor education.
Jazwares developed early traction through licensed entertainment products. Partnerships with Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite gave the company durable shelf space in major retail chains. The acquisition of Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 brought Pokémon licensing under the same roof, and Kellytoy arrived the following year.
Investors, Awards, and a Lasting Legacy
Alleghany Capital Corporation took an initial stake in Jazwares in 2014 and acquired a majority position in 2016. Both transactions preserved Zebersky’s operational authority. Berkshire Hathaway inherited the stake when it acquired Alleghany in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Under Judd Zebersky’s tenure, Jazwares appeared on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list, earned Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators designation, and received Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production recognition. Zebersky personally received the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs honor in 2024 and was named to The Business Report’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs list in 2023.
The company now employs roughly 1,400 people and distributes to more than 100 countries. Chief Operating Officer David Neustein, a 14-year company veteran, became CEO on March 23, 2026. Go To This Page for additional information.
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