When Jazwares acquired Kellytoy in April 2020, Judd Zebersky added a brand to his company’s portfolio that would redefine what Jazwares meant in the marketplace. Squishmallows, the ultrasoft plush toys with individual names, birthdates, and character biographies, were already popular. Under Jazwares, they became a cultural force. Fans collected them obsessively, TikTok amplified their appeal globally, and celebrities from Lady Gaga to Kim Kardashian were photographed with the products.
A Founder Shaped by Factories
The story of Judd Zebersky and Squishmallows is inseparable from a journey that began decades earlier. After leaving his law practice, Zebersky flew to China in 1997 and spent months learning how toys were made. He walked factory floors, studied plush construction, and absorbed the engineering details behind every stage of toy production. That knowledge gave Jazwares a manufacturing literacy that most companies outsource entirely. Zebersky built the company with the understanding that knowing your product from the ground up is not optional.
Jazwares had already proven its ability to build and sustain licensing partnerships with franchises including Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sonic the Hedgehog before Squishmallows arrived. What the acquisition did was give Jazwares an owned intellectual property with mass-market reach. The brand went from niche collectible to one of the most recognized toy lines on the planet. Jazwares, under Judd Zebersky’s leadership, had built the infrastructure to scale it.
A Legacy Beyond Product
Judd Zebersky did not limit his ambitions to revenue. Through Jazwares Cares, he built a philanthropic arm that donated millions of toys to children’s hospitals, Title I schools, and nonprofits. The Zeberskys personally contributed $2 million to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. When Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, with David Neustein taking over days later, he left a company that stood for something beyond its product lines. Visit this page for related information.
Find more information about Judd Zebersky on https://www.jazwares.com/about-us/leadership