Former President of Nike Brand, Charles Denson, and Former Chief Strategy Officer of McDonald’s Corporation, Adam Kriger, Named Independent Directors
Everett, WA, October 28, 2016 – Funko, one of the leading creators and innovators of licensed pop culture products, today announced the appointment of Charles Denson and Adam Kriger as independent directors of its Board.
“We are privileged to welcome Charlie and Adam to our Board,” said Brian Mariotti, President and CEO of Funko. “Both bring deep expertise and a proven track record of driving the growth of some of the world’s largest and most respected consumer brands. Charlie’s significant experience and knowledge in building a global brand, having been instrumental in driving the growth and success of the Nike brand around the world, coupled with Adam’s deep expertise in driving strategy to extend and accelerate the growth of brands including McDonalds, Starwood Hotels and Disney will be invaluable as we implement new initiatives to drive future growth. I look forward to benefiting from their significant experience and insight, along with the rest of the Board, as we execute on our long-term growth strategy.”
“Having pioneered the category, Funko is at the center of an emerging pop culture movement with the necessary resources, expertise and relationships across retail channels and content providers to capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunities ahead,” said Mr. Denson. “I look forward to working with Brian, the senior management and my fellow directors, as the Company continues to define and expand the pop culture collectibles market.”
Mr. Denson brings more than three decades of consumer brand experience to Funko. Prior to his retirement in January 2014, he served as President of the Nike Brand for 13 years, during which the Company grew from $9.8B in global revenues, to in excess of $25B. Prior to his role as President, Mr. Denson ran Nike’s U.S. and European operations and pioneered the brand’s expansion into China, India and Brazil. Mr. Denson began his career with Nike in 1979 as an Assistant Manager in one of its original retail stores in Portland, Oregon. Throughout his tenure at the Company, he held several positions within Nike Inc., including Director of U.S. Apparel Sales; Divisional Vice President of U.S. Sales; Divisional Vice President of European Sales, Divisional Vice President and General Manager of Nike Europe. He holds both a B.S. of Marketing degree, as well as an Honorary Doctorate degree from Utah State University.
“As content continues to be king and consumers dedicate a larger portion of their lives to entertainment, there is a growing demand for products that connect consumers with their favorite pop culture content and programming,” said Mr. Kriger. “Funko is at an exciting inflection point in its growth and I’m excited to join the Board as the Company expands into new and adjacent product categories and builds upon its position as the go-to source for everything pop culture.”
With more than 25 years in the hospitality and entertainment industries, Mr. Kriger brings significant expertise in helping to drive the strategy of leading consumer brands. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for McDonald’s Corporation, overseeing all aspects of strategy development and execution for the Corporation. Prior to McDonald’s, he served as Senior Vice President of Strategy at Starwood Hotels, Inc., where he orchestrated the launch of Starwood Preferred Guest, one of the world’s best hotel loyalty programs. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Corporate Strategy at The Walt Disney Company, where he led strategy and new business development for the Company’s theme parks, hotels and resorts, and other lines of business. Mr. Kriger earned a B.A. in quantitative economics from Stanford and an MBA from Harvard Business School and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Lake Forest Country Day School.
About Funko
Headquartered in Everett, WA, Funko is one of the leading creators and innovators of licensed pop culture products to a diverse range of connected consumers. Funko designs, sources and distributes high-velocity collectible products across multiple categories including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters. In 2015, Funko received a majority investment from ACON Investments, L.L.C, a diversified international private equity firm. As a leader in the large and growing $15 billion global licensed pop culture products market, Funko currently holds one of the largest portfolio of licenses and the rights to create tens of thousands of characters. Funko’s Pop! Vinyl is one of the most popular stylized vinyl collectibles on the market, selling millions of figures to collectors around the world. Learn more at https://funko.com/, and follow us on Twitter (@OriginalFunko) and Instagram (@OriginalFunko).
About ACON Investments
ACON Investments, L.L.C. is a Washington, DC-based international private equity investment firm that manages private equity funds and special purpose partnerships that make investments in the United States and Latin America. Founded in 1996, ACON has responsibility for managing approximately $4.8 billion of capital. ACON has professionals in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Mexico City, São Paulo and Bogotá. For more information, visit www.aconinvestments.com.
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Daniel Pickett
The CompleX is the theory that Marvel Comics is deliberately not pushing or promoting the X-Men line, as the movie/TV and related licensing rights are controlled by Fox Studios, and Marvel Comics isn’t interested in giving that any push.
