Kids’ multimedia entertainment company Genius Brands International has upped two of its leading executives: Kid Genius Cartoon Channel President Deb Pierson has been named Senior Vice President, Global Content Distribution & Marketing, and Lloyd Mintz has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Worldwide Consumer Products. The announcement was made by Genius Brands’ Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward, to whom both will directly report.
“Many of Genius Brands achievements of the past several years can be directly credited to the efforts of Deb Pierson and Lloyd Mintz,” said Heyward. “Both are stellar executives who are committed to our goal of providing intelligent entertainment experiences for today’s children, including the migration of brand across multiple platforms so that fans can engage with the bands they love in every aspect of their life. These promotions are well earned, and I am very excited to see how Deb and Lloyd will flourish in their expanded roles with the company.”
As SVP, Global Content Distribution & Marketing, Deb Pierson will oversee the international reach of Genius Brands’ catalog of animation properties, including music-driven tween brand SpacePOP, upcoming Netflix series Llama Llama from Anna Dewdney, Rainbow Rangers — an all-new preschool brand in development for Nick Jr. and master toy partner Mattel; award-winning toddler brand Baby Genius; Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club; and Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab; as well as new properties currently in development. Spearheading worldwide sales efforts, Pierson will also identify potential co-production partners and advise on the development of new and acquired properties for international and domestic distribution. Pierson will continue to drive the expansion of the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel both domestically and internationally, working in collaboration with its Executive Chairman Margaret Loesch.
Pierson has over 25 years of experience in kids’ entertainment across distribution, licensing and product development, including six years as VP of Sales & Marketing for multiplatform channel Kabillion and bringing the popular Neopets brand to retail as its VP of Specialty Merchandise.
“I am proud to say that I have been passionate about Genius Brands’ content from the moment I first saw what Andy Heyward was producing and developing, and it has been an honor and privilege working alongside Margaret Loesch to build the Kid Genius Cartoon Channel,” said Pierson. “I’m very excited to expand my role at Genius Brands to share my passion for the incredible content in the company’s library with broadcasters and other distribution platforms around the world.”
As SVP, Head of Worldwide Consumer Products, Lloyd Mintz will expand his current areas of oversight in the division, taking on direct responsibility for increasing global awareness for Genius Brands’ roster of brands. This includes spearheading the development and implementation of worldwide licensing and merchandising programs for Genius Brands’ signature brands. Mintz was appointed as Genius Brands’ VP of Consumer Products in August 2014. In that role, he has collaborated with retailers and licensees to build comprehensive global programs for each brand.
Mintz has more than 25 years’ experience in licensing, merchandising and new business, with an expertise in leveraging brand equity through licensing. Since 2000, he has managed his own consultancy, negotiating more than 150 licensing agreements and generated over $700 million in cumulative retail sales on behalf of clients. Prior, Mintz was VP of Domestic Corporate Licensing at Hasbro, where he pioneered the effort to license classic game brands to slot machine manufacturers. He began his career at Disney Consumer Products, overseeing Mattel’s development of toy programs for Lion King, Winnie the Pooh and Aladdin.
“In the three years since joining Genius Brands, I’ve been fortunate in developing a community of like-minded retailers and licensees who want to entertain youngsters as well as stimulate their minds and encourage their imaginations,” said Mintz. “I am grateful for the opportunity to expand upon the work and responsibilities I so thoroughly enjoy and have great expectations for the future of our global consumer products developments.”

