Everett, WA — Funko’s Board of Directors appointed Josh Simon as CEO September 1.. He succeeds Interim CEO, Mike Lunsford. Simon has also been appointed to the Funko Board of Directors.

“Josh is an exceptional leader and his extensive experience in entertainment and consumer products is exactly what Funko needs in its next CEO,” said Charles Denson, Chairman of the Board of Funko. “Moreover, he brings expertise in operations, licensing and strategy, gained while serving in senior leadership roles at such esteemed companies as Netflix, Nike, and The Walt Disney Company. We are delighted to have him as our CEO as we work to maximize the significant growth opportunities ahead.”

On his appointment, Simon said, “I am honored to join the team at Funko, an iconic company with a huge fan base that I admire and respect. Pop culture – and people’s desire to connect with the lifestyle brands they love – is stronger today than ever. There are so many ways we can build on Funko’s fandom and expand our business for the benefit of both customers and shareholders.”

Simon joins Funko following more than five years at Netflix, where he served as Vice President, Consumer Products, overseeing its global merchandise business, live experiences, and the Roald Dahl Story Company. Simon built and scaled the division, creating a broad range of products for Netflix’s biggest titles, such as Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Squid Game and dozens of other titles. He also launched its first e-commerce platform for consumer products and managed relationships with the world’s largest retailers, including Walmart, Target, Primark and more. Additionally, Simon oversaw the growth of Netflix’s Experiences business, launching more than 40 unique experiences across 300 cities around the world.

Prior to Netflix, Simon held several senior management roles of increasing responsibility at Nike, most recently as the Vice President and Head of Global Strategy for product, design, merchandising and categories. Earlier, he held roles overseeing feature film production and development at The Walt Disney Company’s Motion Picture Group and the DreamWorks-based Color Force Productions and in Disney’s corporate strategy and development group. Simon holds a B.A. in economics from Harvard University.