From Attorney to CEO The Unconventional Rise of Judd Zebersky

Most toy executives arrive through product design, marketing, or retail. Judd Zebersky came through a law firm. After earning a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and building his own practice, he pivoted not toward another legal venture, but toward something entirely different. He told his wife he wanted to make toys. She told him to follow his dreams. He did.

In 1997, Zebersky traveled to China and spent months working inside toy factories, teaching himself injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, hair rooting, design, and engineering. He traveled to remote areas where, as he later told Miami Law, entire families got around on a single motorcycle. He visited factories across the south of China and came back with a technical education no business school offered.

Licensing, Acquisition, and Viral Momentum

Jazwares built its early catalog through licensed entertainment properties, securing agreements tied to Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, Fortnite, and Pokémon. The strategy gave the company consistent retail presence before it moved into acquisitions. Wicked Cool Toys was purchased in 2019. Kellytoy, acquired in 2020, brought Squishmallows into the Jazwares lineup.

Squishmallows, plush collectibles with individual names, backstories, and squishdays, took off on TikTok and attracted celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. More than 100 million units sold in a year. Units retail between $5 and $30, making them accessible across consumer demographics.

Alleghany Capital Corporation became a majority investor in 2016, and Berkshire Hathaway inherited Jazwares through its Alleghany acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2022. Both capital relationships were structured to preserve Zebersky’s operational control. He stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, with David Neustein taking over on March 23. Judd Zebersky’s unconventional path produced a company now operating in more than 100 countries with roughly 1,400 employees. Visit this page on LinkedIn, to learn more.

More about Judd Zebersky on https://jazwares.uk/about-us/leadership

Most toy executives arrive through product design, marketing, or retail. Judd Zebersky came through a law firm. After earning a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and building his own practice, he pivoted not toward another legal venture, but toward something entirely different. He told his wife he wanted to make toys.…