Judd Zebersky Earned Industry Awards While Building a Global Toy Brand
Building a toy company from scratch in 1997 required more than creativity. It required supply chain fluency, licensing acumen, capital strategy, and the willingness to acquire the right businesses at the right time. Judd Zebersky did all of it, and the recognitions that followed reflected the breadth of what Jazwares accomplished under his leadership.
The company appeared on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list, a designation that acknowledges organizations shaping their industries in meaningful ways. Fast Company named Jazwares one of its Best Workplaces for Innovators, while Fortune included the company on its Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production list. These honors were earned as Jazwares grew from a licensing-focused startup into a global operation distributing products across more than 100 countries.
Personal Recognition
Zebersky received individual honors alongside the company accolades. The South Florida Business Journal named him among its Ultimate CEOs in 2024. A year earlier, The Business Report included him on its Top 50 Entrepreneurs list. Both recognitions reflected a career arc that started in a law firm and ended at the helm of a company employing roughly 1,400 people worldwide.
The product portfolio that earned those honors included licensed toys tied to Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite, along with acquisitions that brought Pokémon and Squishmallows into the Jazwares catalog. Squishmallows sold over 100 million units in a single year, fueled by social media momentum on TikTok and celebrity endorsement from figures including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Individual units retailed between $5 and $30.
Closing a Chapter
Alleghany Capital Corporation supported the company’s growth, taking an initial stake in 2014 and a majority interest in 2016. Berkshire Hathaway later inherited the investment through its 2022 acquisition of Alleghany. Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, with David Neustein assuming leadership three days later. The awards accumulated over decades speak to a company built with intention and purpose. Visit this page for additional information.
Learn more about Judd Zebersky on https://www.jazwares.com/about-us/leadership
