LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Entertainment Earth, a leading online retailer and wholesaler of pop-culture toys and collectibles, has appointed Billy Lagor as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Lagor succeeds Aaron Labowitz, who co-founded Entertainment Earth in 1996 alongside his brother Jason, former President of Entertainment Earth. Both Aaron and Jason Labowitz will remain on the Board of Directors along with former Chief Technology Officer Aaron Lipman and investment partners Equity Group Investments (EGI) and IVEST Consumer Partners (IVEST).
As CEO, Mr. Lagor will leverage his deep industry expertise in U.S. and global e-commerce strategy, brand management, consumer experiences and digital transformation to strengthen the visibility of Entertainment Earth across the collectibles space and lead its next phase of growth. Mr. Lagor joins Entertainment Earth from Constellation Brands where he was most recently Senior Vice President of Wine and Spirits, focusing on brand strategy and the consumer experience. Prior to his time at Constellation, he spent over 15 years in senior roles at Hasbro building its e-commerce strategy and capability, leading regional growth in Asia Pacific, driving digital transformation, and leading many of its top brands. These experiences, combined with his strong leadership skills and passion for the industry, position Entertainment Earth well as it looks to bolster its industry influence within the pop-culture space.
“Since the inception of Entertainment Earth, the company and its leadership have been laser focused on scaling its customer- and partner-first approach,” said Mr. Lagor. “Under Jason and Aaron’s direction, Entertainment Earth built a loyal customer network and an impressive partner base to address the growing fan market. I’m thrilled to join the team as we look to strengthen these relationships and execute initiatives that will support our company’s profitable growth.”
“Billy is an industry veteran with a strong track record of delivering superior results. His experience, digital and customer-first mindset, and strategic acumen will no doubt enhance the ability of Entertainment Earth to grow and scale,” commented George Jones, Chairman of Entertainment Earth and Co-Founder/Managing Partner of IVEST. “We’re excited to welcome Billy and know that he will build on the solid foundation put in place by the team, EGI, and IVEST. We look forward to embarking on a new chapter of growth and opportunity for the company with Billy at the helm and the full resources of the Board and ownership group.”
“Building Entertainment Earth from an idea Jason and I had into a leading collectibles platform has been a labor of love since we founded it over two decades ago. We’re proud of the company we have built and the relationships we’ve cultivated. Under Billy’s leadership, along with the guidance of our partners EGI and IVEST, the future is bright and the possibilities endless,” said co-founder and outgoing CEO Aaron Labowitz.
About Entertainment Earth
Based in Simi Valley, California, Entertainment Earth is a pioneer in the collectibles and toy industry. The company offers unparalleled expertise and an ever-expanding selection of tens of thousands of licensed products, ranging from popular toy and gift items to high-end limited edition pieces and hard-to-find collectibles. Through its wholesale division, EE Distribution, the company enables smaller retailers and distributors worldwide to purchase in bulk and expand their businesses. Entertainment Earth also designs and develops its own branded toys and collectibles from well-known licenses. It has exhibited at San Diego Comic-Con, the world’s most prestigious gathering of pop-culture enthusiasts, for more than 20 years. For more information, visit www.entertainmentearth.com.
About Equity Group Investments
Equity Group Investments (EGI), founded by Sam Zell more than 50 years ago, has a long track record of building public and private businesses, including the origination and growth of multi-billion-dollar companies. EGI’s flexible capital and open investment mandate enable the firm to pursue opportunistic transactions across industries and geographies, throughout the capital structure, at any point in the economic cycle. EGI’s current portfolio includes investments in transportation and logistics, energy, retail, waste and infrastructure, manufacturing, health care, agribusiness and real estate. For more information, visit www.egizell.com.
About IVEST Consumer Partners
IVEST Consumer Partners was founded in 2013 as an operationally-focused private equity firm, with investments concentrated in the consumer sector. IVEST is a team of world-class operators with an outstanding track record of growing consumer businesses. Their knowledge and experience span a broad range of consumer categories, which they leverage to add strategic value to their portfolio companies by supporting management in achieving objectives. For more information, visit www.ivestconsumer.com.
