JAKKS™ Management Team
Stephen G. Berman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Berman co-founded JAKKS Pacific in 1995, serving as the company’s executive vice president, chief executive officer, secretary and director. In April 2010, Mr. Berman was appointed to the position of chief executive officer. 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.
Jack McGrath
Chief Operating Officer
Jack McGrath, a 16-year veteran of the toy industry, joined JAKKS Pacific in 1999 as Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, and advanced to Senior Vice President of Operations in 2000 and then Executive Vice President of Operations in 2008. Mr. McGrath worked at Mattel Toys in 1995 as an International Marketer and later Marketed the Hot Wheels brand from 1996 – 1998. He holds a Marketing Degree from California State University of Long Beach.
