Funko, Inc. announced that Brian Mariotti will take a leave of absence and cease serving as Funko’s CEO with full support from the company’s Board of Directors. Effective immediately, the Board of Directors appointed director Michael Lunsford as interim CEO and will also commence a thorough search for a new CEO including internal and external candidates. Mariotti remains a member of the Funko Board of Directors.
Lunsford, who joined the Funko Board of Directors in 2018, previously served as Chair of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee. Notably, Lunsford has also previously demonstrated his leadership capabilities by stepping in as interim CEO for two prominent public companies, EarthLink and RealNetworks. In both instances, he adeptly navigated transitional periods following the conclusion of the CEO and founders' tenures, allowing for smooth continuity and organizational success.
This will be the sixth chief executive role for Lunsford.
Funko, Inc. operates as a pop culture lifestyle brand. The Company is engaged in selling a range of licensed pop culture consumer products, featuring characters from a range of media and entertainment content, including movies, TV shows, video games, music and sports. Its products are principally figures, fashion accessories, apparel, plush products, accessories, homewares, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Its products combine its brands and designs and aesthetic sensibilities into properties it licenses from content providers. In addition to offering multiple properties and product categories, it creates and sells a variety of brands that have their own look and feel. The Company's brand portfolio includes Core Collectibles (which include Pop! Vinyl, as well as other branded lines such as Soda, Bitty Pop!, and Pop! Yourself), Loungefly (softlines including bags, wallets, backpacks and apparel) and Other (which includes brands, such as Digital Pop! and Mondo).
FUNKO, INC. 
