Here's a very interesting item from JAKKS Pacific 10-K.
We know that Jack (Jack's=JAKKS) Friedman has always wanted to run a toy company (he also almost ran THQI into the ground), and we know that he left THQI in 1995. Apparently, months after leaving THQI, Friedman bought the assets of a Hong Kong toy company with a toy line know as "Justin." In late summer 1995, Stephen Berman left THQI to join JAKKS. Also, Murray Skala, a director of THQI through 1996, has also been a director of JAKKS since its inception in 1995. Skala's law firm was the legal counsel for THQI until 1997. I find it interesting that things seem to come full circle.
Todd
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Company's directors and executive officers are as follows:
NAME AGE POSITION WITH THE COMPANY
-------------------------- --- ---------------------------------------------------
Jack Friedman............. 58 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Stephen G. Berman......... 33 Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President,
Secretary and Director
Joel M. Bennett........... 36 Chief Financial Officer
Michael G. Miller......... 50 Director
Murray L. Skala........... 51 Director
Robert E. Glick........... 52 Director
Jack Friedman has been Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of
the Company since co-founding it in 1995. From January 1989 until January 1995,
Mr. Friedman was Chief Executive, President, Officer and a director of T-HQ,
Inc., a publicly-held company that develops and sells interactive games and
software. From 1970 to 1989, Mr. Friedman was President and Chief Operating
Officer of LJN Toys, Ltd. ("LJN"), a toy and software company. After LJN was
acquired by MCA/Universal, Inc. ("MCA") in 1986, Mr. Friedman continued as
President until MCA's sale of LJN in late 1989.
Stephen G. Berman has been Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice
President, Secretary and a director of the Company since co-founding it in 1995.
From October 1991 to August 1995, Mr. Berman was a Vice President and Managing
Director of T-HQ International, Inc., a subsidiary of T-HQ, Inc. From 1988 to
1991, he was President and an owner of Balanced Approach, Inc., a distributor of
personal fitness products and services.
Joel M. Bennett joined the Company in September 1995 as Chief Financial
Officer. From August 1993 to September 1995, he 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, Mr. Bennett 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 the international television syndication
and production division.
Michael G. Miller has been a director of the Company since February 1996.
Since 1979, Mr. Miller has been President and a director of several
privately-held affiliated companies: JAMI Marketing, a list brokerage and list
management consulting firm, JAMI Data, a database management consulting firm,
and JAMI Direct, a direct mail graphic and creative design firm. He is also a
director of Quintel Entertainment, Inc., a publicly-held company in the
telephone entertainment services business.
Murray L. Skala has been a director of the Company since October 1995.
Since 1976, Mr. Skala has been a partner of the law firm Feder, Kaszovitz,
Isaacson, Weber, Skala & Bass LLP, counsel to the Company. Mr. Skala is also a
director of Quintel Entertainment, Inc. and Katz Digital Technologies, Inc., a
publicly-held company in the business of producing digital printing and prepress
services. |
