Few executives in the toy industry can trace their path from a law degree to factory floors in rural China but that is exactly the journey Judd Zebersky took in the late 1990s. After earning a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and establishing his own law practice, Zebersky made a decision that surprised many around him. He walked away from a legal career to figure out how toys were made.

In 1997, he flew to China with no background in manufacturing and spent months embedded in factories, learning production methods from the ground up. He studied injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting techniques, hair rooting methods, and engineering specifications. The hands-on education was deliberate he wanted to understand every part of the product before building a business around it.

From Factory Floors to Industry Leadership

The company Judd Zebersky founded, Jazwares, grew from that foundational period into a global toy distributor with products sold in more than 100 countries. Early momentum came through licensed merchandise tied to major entertainment properties, including Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Fortnite. Those partnerships gave Jazwares footing in retail before it began expanding through acquisition.

The 2020 purchase of Kellytoy brought Squishmallows into the Jazwares portfolio. The ultrasoft plush toys, each with individual names, backstories, and squishdays, became a cultural force. More than 100 million units sold in a single year, fueled by viral TikTok content and celebrity fans that included Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Individual units retail between $5 and $30.

Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, ending a nearly 30-year chapter. The company he built employs approximately 1,400 people. Chief Operating Officer David Neustein, who served in that role for 14 years, assumed the top position on March 23, 2026. Judd Zebersky’s exit marks the close of a founding era for one of the most recognized brands in the toy industry. Refer to this article for more information.

Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://news.miami.edu/law/stories/2024/10/judd-and-laura-zebersky-toymakers-extraordinaire.html