Genius Brands hires new general counsel

Genius Brands International has appointed Michael Jaffa as general counsel and senior vice president of business affairs, reporting to chair and CEO Andy Heyward.

In his new role, Jaffa will oversee the negotiation of business transactions in the areas of development, production, licensing, finance and distribution of Genius Brands’ content catalog, which includes Rainbow Rangers, Llama Llama, Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club, Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab and Baby Genius. He joins the company on April 16. 

Jaffa previously worked at DreamWorks Animation Television as head of business affairs and was responsible for all studio business and legal affairs matters, including the negotiation and drafting of development, production, acquisition, talent, digital and music agreements.

Before that, he was the vice president of legal and business affairs for Hasbro Studios, where he helped create programs and launch strategy for a new studio and related network. Jaffa has also represented various clients in the entertainment industry, including Sony Pictures Animation and MGM Studios.

‘As Genius Brands embarks on a year of rapid growth, I am thrilled to welcome Mike, who has a long history of driving profits from the legal sector, on board to lead our business,’ Heyward says in a statement.

‘Andy and the team at Genius Brands have created a children’s media company that is poised to compete with the majors, and I am honored to join in a role that will facilitate the continued global expansion of the company,’ Jaffa says in the statement.