When Jazwares appeared on TIME’s Most Influential Companies list, it was recognition for a company that had spent nearly three decades earning it. Judd Zebersky, who founded Jazwares after leaving his law practice in the late 1990s, had built an organization that the industry consistently recognized for both its product impact and its workplace culture.
Fast Company named Jazwares to its Best Workplaces for Innovators list, and Fortune included the company in its Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production ranking. These designations arrived as Jazwares was riding significant commercial momentum, particularly from Squishmallows, the plush toy brand it acquired through the 2020 purchase of Kellytoy. More than 100 million Squishmallows sold in a single year, with fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian.
Personal Honors and a Giving Legacy
Judd Zebersky received individual recognition alongside the company’s accolades. The South Florida Business Journal honored him with its Ultimate CEOs award in 2024. The Business Report placed him on its Top 50 Entrepreneurs list in 2023. The acknowledgments reflected a leadership record built over nearly three decades of continuous involvement in Jazwares’ operations.
The philanthropic dimension of that record was also significant. Zebersky launched Jazwares Cares at the company’s founding, and the organization distributed millions of toys to children’s hospitals, Title I schools, and nonprofits including Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, and Ronald McDonald House. Judd Zebersky and his family gave $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and remained active supporters of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida.
Judd Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026. David Neustein, the company’s longtime COO, took over on March 23. Jazwares now employs approximately 1,400 people and distributes products in over 100 countries, a far different operation from the one Zebersky started after months of learning toy manufacturing on factory floors in rural China. Visit this page for more information.
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