Our People on the Move Round-Up reports on the new Funko CEO, a former Diamond Book Distributors executive at Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and an industry vet to Prana.
Funko has appointed former Netflix executive Josh Simon as its new CEO and joins the board of directors, the company announced. Simon replaces interim CEO Michael Lunsford, who took over from former Wizards of the Coast President Cynthia Williams when she was let go in July (see “Funko Replaces CEO“). Simon was Vice President, Consumer Products at Netflix, where he oversaw its global merch business, live experiences, and the Roald Dahl Story Company. He comes in at a tough time; Funko lost $41 million in its most recent quarter (see “Funko Loses $41 Million in Brutal Quarter“).
Emily Botica has joined Penguin Random House Publisher Services as Direct, Client Services. Botica, who spent 18 years in various roles at Diamond Comic Distributors, was most recently Vice President of Client Services at Diamond Book Distributors from 2017 until she was laid off in June (see “Another Major Departure“).
Gabe Yocum has joined Prana Direct Market Solutions as Sponsorship and Business Development Manager, the company announced. In that role he’ll represent The EXP, the live sales and original content platform founded by retailer Jen King, Dynamite Entertainment CEO Nick Barrucci, and Kyle Northrop (see “ICv2 Interview: Barrucci and King“), which recently signed with Prana to expand sales and advertising; Zdarsky Comics News, and other Prana productions, including Comic Industry Insiders Live, which airs on The EXP. Yocum spent time at Double Take and Midtown Comics before a six-year stint at ReedPOP, ending in 2023.
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