Who’s News: Funko Names Cynthia Williams as New CEO and Board Member

By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
The Funko brand has appointed experienced industry professional, Cynthia Williams, as its new CEO and executive board member.
Funko is a pop culture lifestyle company that designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories such as  vinyl figures, toys, plush, apparel, home goods, accessories and more.
Williams is expected to officially join the company on May 20, 2024 as both a Funko board member and the company’s chief executive officer.
“After a thorough and comprehensive search process, we are thrilled to welcome Cynthia as our CEO,” said Funko chairman, Jesse Jacobs. “Cynthia has served in a variety of senior leadership roles with some of the largest and most well-respected companies in the world. She has a deep understanding of pop culture, entertainment and fandoms, with a proven background in building consumer brands, developing worldwide strategies and driving global growth,” added Jacobs. “We are confident Cynthia has the experience, leadership capabilities and strategic vision to guide Funko into the future.”
Prior to joining Funko, Williams served as the president of Hasbro’s gaming and Wizards of the Coast division where she oversaw the expansion of popular IPs like Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and Monopoly.
Before her time at Hasbro, Williams spent several years working at Microsoft, where she most recently served as general manager and vice president ofthe company’s gaming ecosystem commercial team.
She also previously worked at Amazon for over a decade. During this time, Williams played a key role in the global expansion of the company’s direct-to-consumer e-commerce business, Fulfillment by Amazon.
“I am honored to lead Funko, a company celebrated for its history of creativity and innovation on behalf of a passionate fan base,” said Williams. “Funko has built a portfolio of valuable global brands, and I am energized about this unique opportunity to help Funko fully realize its potential. My extensive experience with the devoted fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Xbox will be highly beneficial in developing products that continue to appeal to Funko’s passionate fans, both core fans and collectors,” added Williams. “I’m eager to work with the board, management team and our employees around the world to further strengthen our brands and deliver value to our stockholders.”
Michael Lunsford, will remain working as Funko’s interim CEO until William’s appointment is finalized to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
“We thank Mike for his many contributions,” said Funko chairman, Charles Denson. “Under his leadership, Funko has refocused its business on core assets, lowered its debt levels and substantially improved margins. With Funko now on a solid foundation, Cynthia will come in and drive the company to the next phase of growth and profitability,” added Denson. “I know Cynthia is the right choice to lead Funko going forward and we know Mike and Cynthia together will ensure a seamless transition for all our stakeholders.”
The CEO search process was led by global executive recruiting firm, True Search, on behalf of Funko’s board of directors.