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Ynon Kreiz

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Ynon Kreiz
ינון קרייז
Kreiz in 2014
Born
Tel Aviv, Israel
Citizenship
  • Israel
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
EducationTel Aviv University (BA)
University of California, Los Angeles (MBA)
SpouseAnat Fabrikant
Children4

Ynon Kreiz (Hebrew: ינון קרייז)[1] is a businessman and co-CEO of Skydance Corporation.[2] He was chairman and CEO of Fox Kids Europe from 1997 to 2002,[3] chairman and CEO of television and digital production company Endemol from 2008 to 2011,[3][4] and chairman, CEO and president of web video network Maker Studios, Inc. from 2012 to 2016, and chairman and CEO of Mattel from 2018 to 2026.[5]

Early life and education

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Born and raised in Israel, Kreiz earned a BA in economics and management from Tel Aviv University in 1991.[6] He then moved to Los Angeles, California to attend graduate school and in 1993 received an M.B.A. from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.[6]

Career

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Fox Kids Europe

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While at UCLA, Kreiz met Israeli media mogul Haim Saban[4] whom he joined in 1994 as a business partner. In 1996 Kreiz moved to London to launch children's television network Fox Kids Europe, a joint venture with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.[4][7] From 1997 to 2002 Kreiz was chairman and CEO of Fox Kids Europe. During his tenure, Fox Kids expanded into one of the largest pay-TV channels in Europe and the Middle East, broadcasting in 56 countries in 17 languages.[7][8] In 1999 Fox Kids Europe (FKE) was listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange in Amsterdam, and in 2001, the Walt Disney Company acquired a majority stake (76%) in Fox Kids Europe, with the remaining 24% of its stock publicly traded.[4][9] Kreiz resigned from FKE at the expiration of his contract in 2002, the year following the Disney sale.[9]

Benchmark Capital Europe (Balderton Capital)

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In 2005-2007, Kreiz was a General Partner at European VC firm Benchmark Capital (later renamed Balderton Capital).[10] Kreiz was on the boards of several media/technology companies including North American Sport Network (sold to ESPN in 2006), Next New Networks (sold to Google in 2011), Setanta Sports,[11] Wonga and Codemasters.[4]

Endemol

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Kreiz with Luke Johnson in 2011.

From 2008 to 2011, Kreiz was chairman and CEO of Netherlands-based television and digital production company Endemol, known for reality shows such as Big Brother and Deal or No Deal. Kreiz is credited with restructuring Endemol's creative profile and business operations through expansion from reality television into scripted programming and distribution.[3][12] While operational performance remained strong under Kreiz, the company had substantial debt with a high level of interest payments from its 2007 buyout at the peak of the private-equity boom prior to Kreiz joining the company.[3]

Maker Studios

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In 2012, Kreiz invested in, and joined the board of Los Angeles-based multi-channel network Maker Studios as chairman, and became CEO in 2013.[13] Maker Studios produces short-form videos on YouTube and other platforms, with a roster of over 55,000 independent artists.[14][15] In March 2014, Kreiz negotiated the sale of Maker to Disney for $500 million, with an additional $450 million based on meeting performance incentives.[14][13][15][16] During Kreiz's tenure, Maker negotiated deals with Dish Network, Vimeo, as well as the creation mobile apps and branded video hubs for its individual content creators. In January 2016 Kreiz stepped down as CEO following the expiration of Maker's earn-out agreement with Disney.[17]

Mattel

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In April 2018, Kreiz became CEO of Mattel, replacing Margo Georgiadi, and became chairman of the board in May 2018.[5][18] In 2021, under Kreiz's leadership, Mattel's net sales were up 19% and its operating income was up 95% vs. the prior year. This was Mattel's highest annual growth rate in the last decade.[19][20] In 2024, the company received an investment grade rating from the three major credit rating firms, and, in 2023, it was named the #1 toy company in the U.S. for the 30th consecutive year.[21][22]

Under Kreiz's leadership, the company expanded with more entertainment offerings, products, digital games, publishing, and live events.[23][1] Its first movie, Barbie (2023), was the biggest movie of 2023,[23] and as of 2026, is the 20th highest grossing film of all time.[24][25] It was nominated for eight Academy Awards[23] and received the Oscar for Best Original Song (What Was I Made For?).[26] Miniso Group Holding Ltd, owned by Ye Guofu, also partnered with Mattel in 2022 to release Barbie-themed collaborations.

Kreiz in 2014.

As CEO, Kreiz set sustainability goals of achieving 100% recycled, recyclable, or bio-based materials in all products and packaging, reducing plastic packaging by 25% per product by 2030, and maintaining 100% pay equity globally.[27][28] The company was recognized on the 2024 edition of Forbes's annual 'World's Best Employer's' list,[29] the Great Place to Work Institute,[30] and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.[31] It was one of the Time100 Most Influential Companies in 2023,[32] and one of the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2024.[33]

Kreiz was also honored as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2024 and earned Cannes Lions’ Entertainment Person of the Year Award for 2024.[21][34]

Skydance Corporation

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Kreiz became co-CEO of Skydance Corporation, the combined Paramount-Warner Bros. company, to oversee day-to-day operations and integration, effective October 6, 2026.[2]

Personal life

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Kreiz is Jewish.[35] He is a former windsurfing instructor and avid kite surfer.[4][36] He is married to Israeli Olympian Anat Fabrikant with four children, all born in London, England.[4][37] Kreiz was the Attaché of the Israeli Olympic team for the 2012 Summer Olympics and chairman of the boards of trustees in support of the Israeli athletes.[38] He is a member of the board of advisors at UCLA's Anderson School of Management[39] and the board of directors at Warner Music Group.[40] Kreiz is also a member of Business Roundtable.[41]

References

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  1. 1 2 Olson, Carly (June 30, 2024). "Ynon Kreiz: The CEO Mattel (and Hollywood) needed in the darkest hour". Los Angeles Times.
  2. 1 2 Hayes, Dominic Patten,Dade (September 30, 2026). "Ynon Kreiz Named Co-CEO Of Paramount Alongside David Ellison". Deadline. Retrieved October 1, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 Turner, Mimi (September 29, 2009). "Master of reality". The Hollywood Reporter.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Garside, Juliette (May 25, 2008). "Ynon Kriez hopes Endemol will fly high". The Telegraph.
  5. 1 2 ."Mattel Names New CEO as It Seeks Answer to Sales Slump". Wall Street Journal. April 19, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (December 14, 2007). "Ynon Kreiz - Morphin' Power Ranger". www.ft.com. Financial Times.
  7. 1 2 Larsen, Peter (April 14, 2000). "Windsurfer riding the wave of television success". Financial Times. U.K.
  8. ↑ Edmunds, Marlene (March 21, 2002). "Fox Kids Europe turns $6.5 million profit". Variety.
  9. 1 2 Johnson, Debra (August 5, 2002). "Kreiz ankles Fox Kids Europe". Variety.
  10. ↑ Durman, Paul (January 9, 2005). "Ebay backer Benchmark recruits media star". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ Destin, Fred (December 14, 2007). "Balderton: Ynon Kreiz leaves as partner line-up evolves". Open Source Venture Capital.
  12. ↑ Turner, Mimi (June 24, 2011). "Endemol's Ynon Kreiz Steps Down as CEO and Chairman". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. 1 2 Spangler, Todd (March 24, 2014). "Disney Buys Maker Studios In Deal Worth At Least $500 Million". Variety.
  14. 1 2 Barnes, Brooks (March 24, 2014). "Disney Buys Maker Studios, Video Supplier for YouTube". New York Times.
  15. 1 2 Roxborough, Scott (October 13, 2014). "MIPCOM: Maker Studios CEO Says Future of TV is Short-Form". The Hollywood Reporter.
  16. ↑ Dredge, Stuart (October 13, 2014). "YouTube: Maker Studios says short-form stars 'inventing a new medium'". The Guardian.
  17. ↑ Shields, Mike (December 15, 2015). "Maker Studios Head to Step Down". Wall Street Journal.
  18. ↑ Spangler, Todd (April 19, 2018). "Media Exec Ynon Kreiz Named CEO of Mattel". Variety. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Fourth Quarter 2021 Earnings". February 9, 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  20. ↑ "United States Securities and Exchange Commission". www.sec.gov.
  21. 1 2 "Cannes Lions Honours Mattel Chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz with Entertainment Person of the Year Award". www.canneslions.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "A-Team | Bloomberg Enhances Credit Risk Signalling Tools That Forecast the Barbie Party | Press | Bloomberg LP". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 Wagmeister, Elizabeth (March 6, 2024). "With the Oscar-nominated 'Barbie,' Mattel has arrived in Hollywood. What's next for the toy company? | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  24. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (September 2, 2023). "'Barbie' Is Officially the Highest-Grossing Release of the Year With $1.36 Billion Globally". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  25. ↑ "All Time Worldwide Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024.
  26. ↑ Pulver, Andrew; Shoard, Catherine (March 11, 2024). "Billie Eilish wins best song Oscar for What Was I Made For? from Barbie". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  27. ↑ "2030 goals: Mattel aims for 100% recycled and recyclable toys | Greenbiz". www.greenbiz.com. December 27, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  28. ↑ Verdon, Joan. "Mattel Issues A Pledge To Be A Better Global Citizen". Forbes. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Forbes World's Best Employers 2024 - Best Companies To Work For Worldwide". Forbes. October 8, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  30. ↑ Work, Great Place To. "Mattel, Inc". Great Place To Work®. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  31. ↑ "HRC". HRC. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  32. ↑ "TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2023: Mattel". Time. June 21, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  33. ↑ LaPorte, Nicole (March 19, 2024). "'Barbie' soared because Mattel chilled. Here's how Mattel is applying that lesson to the future". Fast Company. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  34. ↑ Abrams, By J. J. (April 17, 2024). "Ynon Kreiz: The 100 Most Influential People of 2024". TIME. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Meet the Israeli-American Mattel CEO who made 'Barbie' a movie star". The Times of Israel. August 7, 2023. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  36. ↑ Clarke, Steve (October 7, 2008). "Ynon Kreiz: Action Man". Broadcast.
  37. ↑ Boles, Tracey (July 8, 2022). "Playtime is serious business for boss who saved Mattel from the junk box". The Times.
  38. ↑ Elgot, Jessica (November 24, 2011). "Brits funding Israeli Olympic bid". thejc.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Board of Visitors | UCLA Anderson School of Management". www.anderson.ucla.edu. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Warner Music Group | Investor Relations | corporate governance - board of directors". investors.wmg.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2006.
  41. ↑ "Chairman and Chief Executive Officer". www.businessroundtable.org. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
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