Judd Zebersky Steps Down After 30 Years Building Jazwares

After nearly three decades at the helm, Judd Zebersky officially stepped down as CEO of Jazwares on March 20, 2026. The transition marked the end of a founding era for a company that grew from a one-man bet on the toy industry into a global brand known worldwide for Squishmallows.

Zebersky came to toys from law. He earned his JD from the University of Miami School of Law, started his own firm, and then made the kind of career pivot that most lawyers never seriously consider. In 1997, he flew to China with no manufacturing background and spent months learning the trade from the inside out.

What He Learned on the Factory Floor

The education was practical and physical. Judd Zebersky studied injection molding, blow molding, and rotocasting. He observed hair rooting techniques, traced how designs moved through the engineering process, and traveled to remote factories in southern China along roads where infrastructure was minimal.

“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.

Jazwares launched with licensed products tied to franchises including Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite. It expanded through acquisition: Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 added Pokémon, and Kellytoy in 2020 brought Squishmallows into the catalog.

The Squishmallows Effect

Squishmallows are soft plush toys with individual names, bios, and squishdays. They spread through TikTok and drew fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. The line sold over 100 million units in a year at prices between $5 and $30. The momentum helped Jazwares land on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list and earn recognition from Fast Company and Fortune.

Alleghany Capital Corporation invested in Jazwares in 2014 and held a majority interest by 2016. Berkshire Hathaway absorbed the holding through its 2022 acquisition of Alleghany. The South Florida Business Journal named Zebersky a recipient of its Ultimate CEOs award in 2024. Jazwares Cares has distributed millions of toys to nonprofits, hospitals, and schools since the company’s founding.

David Neustein, who served as COO for 14 years, stepped into the CEO role on March 23, 2026. Refer to this article for related information.

Learn more about Judd Zebersky on https://toyworldmag.co.uk/jazwares-announces-departure-of-senior-leadership/