TLL Staff
Funko says Night CEO Reed Duchscher has joined its board of directors, as longtime director Mike Lunsford steps down.
Duchscher is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Night, a talent management and venture platform that partners with influential creators, artists, and brands.
“I’m excited to be joining Funko at a time where the culture, entertainment, and IP landscape is evolving as significantly as it has in decades,” said Duchscher. “Funko has always been a beloved brand in the world of pop culture fanatics, and there’s a bright future in being able to connect both its brand and products with the next generation of fans.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside Josh and the rest of the Board to fulfill their vision of the business.”
Duchscher is credited with pioneering a disruptive business model that turns creators into founders and operators, including the representation and scaling of YouTube star MrBeast and snack brand Feastables.
Night’s mission is to amplify the voices and companies defining pop culture today, building creator-led businesses across talent management, content production, marketing strategy, and venture investing.
The firm oversees some of the most influential creators in pop culture, including Kai Cenat, Hasan Piker and the Kalogeras Sisters. Night’s creators and partners set trends, engage audiences at scale, and drive commerce, positioning the company at the forefront of content, culture, and the future of media.
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“Reed is a deeply respected business leader and investor with a proven track record of building dynamic businesses in fast-evolving consumer and digital markets,” said Josh Simon, Chief Executive Officer of Funko. “We believe his experience bridging content, creators and commerce, as well as his work developing new revenue models around fandom, will be highly valuable as we focus on driving profitable growth, deepening fan engagement and creating long-term shareholder value.”
Duchscher steps in as Lunsford, a key figure in Funko’s development over the years, steps down from his long tenure on the board. In addition to his work as a director, Lunsford also stepped in as an interim CEO during periods of organizational change at the company.
“Funko and the Board express their appreciation to Mike Lunsford for his many years of service and leadership, including his contributions as Funko’s Interim CEO during periods of strategic transition and organizational change,” the company said.
Funko is a leading global pop culture lifestyle brand, owning top companies like Funko, Loungefly and Mondo, and is a key player in the licensing industry as well, holding a vast portfolio of licensing partnerships with top entertainment brands.