Genius Brands International Promotes Michael Jaffa to Chief Operating Officer
December 04 2020 - 9:02AM
Genius Brands International, “Genius Brands” (Nasdaq: GNUS), a
global brand management company that creates and licenses
multimedia entertainment content for children, announced today the
executive promotion of Michael Jaffa to Chief Operating Officer
from his previous role as General Counsel & Senior Vice
President of Business Affairs. The announcement was made today by
Genius Brands’ Chairman and CEO Andy Heyward, to whom Jaffa
continues to report.
In his new role as COO, Jaffa will be
responsible for overseeing the business operations of production,
consumer products, global distribution, as well as legal, human
resources and the diversity divisions. Additionally, he will
continue to oversee the business and legal operations of the
Company’s digital channels, Kartoon Channel! and Kartoon
Classroom!, while retaining his responsibilities as General
Counsel.
“Since joining Genius Brands in 2018, Mike has
been a tireless leader in driving the business forward as we lay
the foundations for the next great kids company,” commented
Heyward. “Heading into 2021, we are poised to take a giant leap
forward with the execution of business strategies for our new
brands, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Shaq’s Garage, and
Stan Lee Universe, joining tentpoles Rainbow Rangers and Llama
Llama, and the continued rapid expansion of our digital platform,
Kartoon Channel! now in over 100
million U.S. TV households, and available in virtually the entire
country. He will additionally oversee the integration of the recent
acquisition of Chizcom Media, the largest buyer of children’s
advertising in North America. Mike’s pedigree coming from Hasbro
Productions, and DreamWorks TV Animation, is another example of
building Genius Brands into a powerhouse entertainment company with
proven leadership from the world’s most successful companies in the
entertainment and broadcast industries.”
“There are tremendous opportunities for growth
in the years to come for Genius Brands,” stated Jaffa. “I am
honored to take on this expanded role and look forward to working
together with Andy, my management colleagues, our dedicated
employees, and all of the departments across our business to
continue our transformation to one of the foremost producers and
distributor of enduring first-class content for kids and their
families.”
Prior to joining Genius Brands as General
Counsel & SVP of Business Affairs, Jaffa served as Head of
Business Affairs at DreamWorks Animation Television and was
responsible for all studio business and legal affairs matters,
including the negotiation and drafting of hundreds of development,
production, acquisition, talent, digital and music agreements.
Previously, he was the Vice President of Legal & Business
Affairs for Hasbro Studios, working directly with Hasbro Studio’s
President, CFO, and General Manager to help create programs and
launch strategy for a new studio and related network.
Jaffa has also represented various clients, including Sony Pictures
Animation and MGM Studios.
Jaffa received a J.D. from New York University School of
Law.
About Genius Brands
InternationalGenius Brands International, Inc. (Nasdaq:
GNUS) is a leading global kids media company developing, producing,
marketing and licensing branded children’s entertainment properties
and consumer products for media and retail distribution. The
Company’s award-winning ‘content with a purpose’ portfolio includes
the upcoming Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold
Schwarzenegger and in partnership with Alibaba; Rainbow Rangers for
Nick Jr.; Llama Llama, starring Jennifer Garner, for Netflix;
award-winning toddler brand Baby Genius; adventure comedy STEM
series Thomas Edison's Secret Lab; and entrepreneurship series
Warren Buffett's Secret Millionaires Club. Through licensing
agreements with leading partners, characters from Genius Brands’ IP
also appear on a wide range of consumer products for the worldwide
retail marketplace. The Company’s new Kartoon Channel! is available
in over 100 million U.S. television households via a broad range of
distribution platforms, including Comcast, Cox, DISH, Amazon Prime,
Sling TV, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and more. For additional
information, please visit www.gnusbrands.com.
Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press
release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might,"
"will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate,"
"continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or
similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or
current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the
Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable,
undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking
statements, which are based on information available to us on the
date of this release. These forward looking statements are based
upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various
risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, our ability
to generate revenue or achieve profitability; our ability to obtain
additional financing on acceptable terms, if at all; our ability to
repay our outstanding debt; the potential issuance of a significant
number of shares to our convertible note holders which will dilute
our equity holders; fluctuations in the results of our operations
from period to period; general economic and financial conditions;
our ability to anticipate changes in popular culture, media and
movies, fashion and technology; competitive pressure from other
distributors of content and within the retail market; our reliance
on and relationships with third-party production and animation
studios; our ability to market and advertise our products; our
reliance on third-parties to promote our products; our ability to
keep pace with technological advances; our ability to protect our
intellectual property and those other risk factors set forth in the
“Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K and in the Company's subsequent filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Thus, actual
results could be materially different. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
MEDIA CONTACT:pr@gnusbrands.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
CONTACT:
ir@gnusbrands.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/288cd9b6-908c-42db-8c95-845735ef2e3f
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