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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Funko Appoints Josh Simon Chief Executive Officer
Former Netflix, Nike, and Disney Executive Brings Extensive Entertainment, Consumer Products, and Operational Experience EVERETT, Wash., August 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Funko, Inc. (Nasdaq: FNKO), a leading pop culture lifestyle brand, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Josh Simon as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2025. He succeeds Interim CEO, Mike Lunsford. Simon has also been appointed to the Funko Board of Directors, effective on the same date. "Josh is an exceptional leader and his extensive experience in entertainment and consumer products is exactly what Funko needs in its next CEO," said Charles Denson, Chairman of the Board of Funko. "Moreover, he brings expertise in operations, licensing and strategy, gained while serving in senior leadership roles at such esteemed companies as Netflix, Nike, and The Walt Disney Company. We are delighted to have him as our CEO as we work to maximize the significant growth opportunities ahead." On his appointment, Simon said, "I am honored to join the team at Funko, an iconic company with a huge fan base that I admire and respect. Pop culture - and people's desire to connect with the lifestyle brands they love - is stronger today than ever. There are so many ways we can build on Funko's fandom and expand our business for the benefit of both customers and shareholders." Simon joins Funko following more than five years at Netflix, where he served as Vice President, Consumer Products, overseeing its global merchandise business, live experiences, and the Roald Dahl Story Company. Simon built and scaled the division, creating a broad range of products for Netflix's biggest titles, such as Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Game and dozens of other titles. He also launched its first e-commerce platform for consumer products and managed relationships with the world's largest retailers, including Walmart, Target, Primark and more. Additionally, Simon oversaw the growth of Netflix's Experiences business, launching more than 40 unique experiences across 300 cities around the world. Prior to Netflix, Simon held several senior management roles of increasing responsibility at Nike, most recently as the Vice President and Head of Global Strategy for product, design, merchandising and categories. Earlier, he held roles overseeing feature film production and development at The Walt Disney Company's Motion Picture Group and the DreamWorks-based Color Force Productions and in Disney's corporate strategy and development group. Simon holds a B.A. in economics from Harvard University. About Funko: Funko is a leading global pop culture lifestyle brand, with a diverse collection of brands, including Funko, Loungefly, and Mondo, and an industry-leading portfolio of licenses. Funko delivers industry-defining products that span vinyl figures, micro-collectibles, fashion accessories, apparel, action toys, high-end art, music collectibles, among others, many of which are at the forefront of the growing Kidult economy. Through these products, which include the iconic original Pop! line, Bitty Pop!, and Pop! Yourself, Funko inspires fans across the globe to express their passions, build community, and have fun. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Washington state, Funko has offices, retail locations, operations, and licensed partnerships in major consumer geographies across the globe. Learn more at and follow us on TikTok, X, and Instagram. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's growth opportunities, future financial results and strategy. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to execute our business strategy; our ability to manage our inventories and growth; risks relating to our indebtedness, including our ability to comply with financial and negative covenants under our Credit Agreement, as amended, and our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to maintain and realize the full value of our license agreements; impacts from economic downturns; changes in the retail industry and markets for our consumer products; our ability to maintain our relationships with retail customers and distributors; our ability to compete effectively; fluctuations in our gross margin and seasonal impacts; our dependence on content development and creation by third parties; the ongoing level of popularity of our products with consumers; our ability to develop and introduce products in a timely and cost-effective manner; our ability to obtain, maintain and protect our intellectual property rights or those of our licensors; potential violations of the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with counterfeit versions of our products; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and maintain our corporate culture; our use of third-party manufacturing; risks associated with climate change; increased attention to sustainability and environmental, social and governance initiatives; geographic concentration of our operations; risks associated with our international operations, including risks related to tariffs and trade restrictions; changes in effective tax rates or tax law; our dependence on vendors and outsourcers; risks relating to government regulation; risks relating to litigation, including products liability claims and securities class action litigation; any failure to successfully integrate or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or investments; future development and acceptance of blockchain networks; risks associated with receiving payments in digital assets; risk resulting from our e-commerce business and social media presence; our ability to successfully operate our information systems and implement new technology; our ability to secure additional financing on favorable terms or at all; the potential for our or our third-party providers' electronic data or the electronic data of our customers to be compromised; the influence of our significant stockholder, TCG, and the possibility that TCG's interests may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders; risks relating to our organizational structure; including the Tax Receivable Agreement ("TRA") which confers certain benefits upon the parties to the TRA ("TRA Parties") that will not benefit Class A common stockholders to the same extent as it will benefit the TRA Parties; volatility in the price of our Class A common stock; and risks associated with our internal control over financial reporting. These and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. View source version on Contacts Investor Relations: investorrelations@ Media: pr@
Time Out
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This powerful photo exhibit shows the turmoil of Coney Island in the 1960s-70s
These days, Coney Island is known for its roller coasters, Mermaid Parade, and Hot Dog Eating Contest, but back in the 1960s and 1970s, it was a very different story. Instead, the Brooklyn neighborhood resembled "a war zone" between 1965–1975 amid ill-conceived government projects, as the Coney Island History Project explained. Now, a new exhibit of street photography from that era examines what life was like back then. Charles Denson grew up in the West End of Coney Island and began photographing his neighborhood as a teenager. His photos are now part of the exhibition "Coney Island Streets: 1965–1975," which you can visit for free all summer at the Coney Island History Project. The fee exhibit shows the effects of discriminatory policies that began back in 1938 when the federal government "redlined" Coney Island. Redlining targeted the area because of prejudice against immigrants, African Americans, and local residents who were predominantly of Jewish, Italian, and Irish ancestry, the Coney Island History Project explains. The flawed policies of the Federal Housing Administration made it nearly impossible for homeowners to obtain mortgages, loans, and insurance. Slumlords, arsonists, greedy developers, and block-busting took advantage of the situation, and quality of life deteriorated as the area became a poverty pocket. "I grew up to the sounds of fire engines and bulldozers as block after block of viable housing went up in flames or was reduced to rubble under the treads of heavy machinery. None of the structures in my photographs has survived," Denson said in a press release. Block after block of viable housing went up in flames or was reduced to rubble. The government's Urban Renewal program called for the demolition of 60 blocks of homes and businesses. Then, government funding for such projects ran out in 1974, leaving the Coney Island community with a debris field of burned out structures and closed businesses. "My photographs show how resilient the neighborhood proved to be as residents survived as best they could with what remained. During this 10-year period I photographed portraits of local residents, family-run businesses, and the dramatic day-to-day changes taking place in Coney Island," Denson added. My photographs show how resilient the neighborhood proved to be. After photographing his neighborhood as a teen, Denson eventually began his career in 1971 as a photographer for New York Magazine. Today, he is an author of several books about Coney Island and served as executive director of the nonprofit Coney Island History Project. See the exhibit for free at the Coney Island History Project exhibition center (3059 West 12th Street, next to the West 12th Street entrance to Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, just a few steps off the Boardwalk). It's open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Labor Day, 1–7pm.
