JAKKS™ Management Team
Jack Friedman
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Since co-founding JAKKS Pacific, Inc. in 1995, Jack Friedman has served as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer. Under Mr. Friedman’s leadership, JAKKS Pacific was included in Forbes magazine’s 2002 list of the best 200 small companies in America for the third year, and was also named to FORTUNE magazine’s annual list of the 100 fastest-growing companies in America for the fourth year in a row. Prior to his positions at JAKKS Pacific, from January 1989 until January 1995 Mr. Friedman was president, chief executive officer and a director of THQ, Inc., a publicly held company that develops and sells interactive games and software. From 1970 to 1991, Mr. Friedman held executive positions at several other toy companies, including that of president and chief operating officer of LJN Toys, Ltd., a toy and software company. When MCA/Universal, Inc. acquired LJN in 1986, Mr. Friedman continued as president until MCA’s sale of LJN in late 1988.
Stephen G. Berman
President and Chief Operating Officer
Stephen Berman co-founded JAKKS Pacific in 1995, serving as the company’s executive vice president, chief operating officer, secretary and director. In January 1999, Mr. Berman was appointed to the position of president. In 2001, Mr. Berman received Los Angeles’ Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. From October 1991 to August 1995, Mr. Berman was a vice president and managing director of THQ International, Inc., a subsidiary of THQ, Inc. Prior to his position at THQ, from 1988 to 1991, Mr. Berman was president and an owner of Balanced Approach, Inc., a distributor of personal fitness products and services.
Joel Bennett
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
Joel M. Bennett, who holds an MBA and is a certified public accountant, joined JAKKS Pacific in September 1995 as chief financial officer. In June 2000, he was promoted to the additional position of executive vice president in charge of overseeing all the company’s financial operations. From August 1993 to September 1995, Mr. Bennett served in several financial management capacities at Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., including controller of Warner Bros. Consumer Products Worldwide Merchandising and Interactive Entertainment. From June 1991 to August 1993, he was vice president and chief financial officer of TTI Technologies, Inc., a direct-mail computer hardware and software distribution company. From 1986 to June 1991, Mr. Bennett held various financial management positions at The Walt Disney Company, including senior manager of finance for its international television syndication and production division.
