Yet more comic book industry hires. We told you a little while ago about Dark Horse’s new managing editor, but here are more hirings and promotions from Mad Cave, Boom and Valiant.
• Mad Cave is ramping up, it seems, and they have just named Mark Irwin as Vice President of Business Development. Irwin is an industry vet — formerly executive editor at Insight Editions, and with serious stints at IDW, Heavy Metal Magazine, WildStorm Consumer Products, and Upper Deck — so this is a serious position. And according to their PR, the company is trying to establish itself as a serious indie publisher, both with upcoming announcements, and a media deal with Echo Lake Entertainment.
More:
Irwin will focus on developing new business opportunities by identifying new partnerships and brand collaborations. He will be assisting in publishing across the direct market, book market, and director-to-consumer channels as well as help spearhead development opportunities for the catalog, including the young adult imprint, Maverick.
“Working collaboratively to create powerful stories has always been my passion,” said Mark Irwin. “I couldn’t be more excited to join Mad Cave Studios in furthering these stories and expanding their upward trajectory across all platforms!”
“I’m thrilled to have someone like Mark joining the Mad Cave family. His diverse trajectory and expertise are an exciting addition to our management team,” said Mad Cave Studios CEO, Mark London. “As the company continues to grow, Mark will only accelerate Mad Cave‘s vision of making cutting-edge content that comic book fans love.”
For additional press queries, please contact Don’t Hide Publicity Director, Melissa Meszaros: [email protected].
• Meanwhile, Valiant is still moving along, and they have promoted Gregg Katzman to Director of Marketing & Publicity, where he’ll help shape the future of the Valiant Universe in announcement strategies, internal feedback on everything from covers to stories, and so much more.
Katzman joined Valiant in 2018 as Marketing Coordinator, but quickly rocketed along to become Marketing Manager and then Marketing & Publicity Manager. He was formerly Marketing & Events Manager at Midtown Comics.
According to the PR he’ll have a busy 2022, as Valiant plans more rollouts:
With the upcoming launch of THE HARBINGER on October 27th and the return of SHADOWMAN in January, readers can expect a heightened focus on flagship and fan-favorite characters moving forward. “As a Valiant fan who has been proudly promoting the comics since 2012, this really is a dream job,” said Gregg. “I recognize just how incredibly lucky I am to have this opportunity and I will continue to do my best to make sure we’re always thinking of the fans first, while also welcoming newcomers to explore one of the best shared universes in comics. I am sincerely very excited about the plans for 2022, and I can’t wait to get the word out in the coming months. Stay tuned and thank you for staying Valiant.”
Publisher Fred Pierce understands the strengths Gregg brings to the team as well. “It’s great having Gregg on the Valiant team and his new position is well deserved,” said Fred. “Gregg is a true lover of the Valiant Universe and always puts the fans first. Our press coverage is ever stronger which means that more and more people are enjoying the Valiant Universe. In a world that often seems insane, Gregg lifts everyone around him up. I continue to look forward to working with him every day.“
• Boom! Studios continues their hiring spree, naming Jennifer Harned as Chief Financial Officer, a strategic leadership role that will directly oversee Boom’s finance department. She brings much experience to the role, the PR tells us:
Jennifer Harned is a C-suite global operations and finance executive with extensive leadership experience in consumer products. She brings both large and small scale experience to the role, which enables her to contribute an entrepreneurial mindset and vision to establishing foundations for exponential, sustainable growth. In 2019, Jennifer was President and General Manager for the Bell, Giro, Blackburn, Raskullz, Krash, and Copilot businesses, a subsidiary of Vista Outdoor, where she ran global sales. Prior to Vista Outdoor, she was COO and CFO at Action Sports for BRG Sports, Inc., a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded athletic equipment. In her time as an executive, Jennifer completed seven domestic and international acquisitions/divestitures, representing over $750M in value to multiple organizations, and is recognized for her vision in creating enterprise value through portfolio optimization, revenue growth, risk mitigation, and calculated new business opportunity assessment. Most recently, Jennifer has acted in an executive or advisory role for a variety of early stage environments in the beauty, consumer electronics, sporting goods, tech, and apparel industries. Jennifer has an MBA, Honor Society from the University of California Los Angeles, and she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy & Computer Applications, with a concentration in Philosophy, Politics, & Economics, cum laude from the University of Notre Dame.
“Jennifer adds an unparalleled breadth of experience and acumen to our team at BOOM! Studios which will be instrumental in continuing the company’s tremendous growth,” said Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios Founder and Chairman of the Board. “She not only brings a phenomenal eye for opportunity, but also a fresh new perspective on what is ahead of us.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at BOOM! Studios at this exciting juncture in the company’s history,” said Harned. “The progress this company has made in recent years has been nothing short of incredible, and I look forward to working with my colleagues at BOOM! to harness and accelerate that momentum into our next stage of growth.”
The PR claims that Harned’s hiring comes “at a pivotal time in BOOM! Studios’ recent history,” which I would say is also accurate, as they keep leveling up as the comics industry continues to prosper in the face of the pandemic.
• It’s not directly comics industry, but Victoria Alonso has been promoted to president, physical and postproduction, visual effects, and animation production for Marvel Studios. While she’ll continue to report to co-president Louis D’Esposito, it’s a huge position at the studio and reflects Alonso’s growing influence there.
“Victoria has been an incredible partner and part of our team since the very first Iron Man,” said Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige and D’Esposito in a statement. “She is one of the most dynamic, candid and accessible executives in the industry, and we’re thrilled that she’ll continue to be by our side in this elevated role as we lead Marvel Studios into the future.”
