Brian Mariotti resigns from Funko

Brian Mariotti has announced his resignation as a director and employee of Funko Ink. The Funko Inc. director and former CEO is making the move just six weeks after he stepped down as CEO and was placed on a "six-month sabattical," according to reports.

A turbulent year 

Mariotti, who previously owned Funko after buying the company from founder Mike Becker in 2005, resumed his post as CEO in December 2023 amid a tumultuous leadership transition and a series of abrupt layoffs.

This year, Funko, which became a billion-dollar company in 2021, struggled with internal challenges, reducing its workforce several times and firing Brian Mariotti in July. Last month, interim CEO Michael Lunsford said Funko would be "transformed" and run "like a lean startup.“

What happens next

According to the terms of his employment contract, Mariotti is leaving for "good cause" and will draw his base salary for another year and continue to receive premiums paid by the company-including COBRA, if he chooses that form of coverage.

Taking a new role 

Under a two-year contract, Mariotto and Funko have entered into a consulting arrangement. He will receive $50,000 per quarter, provided he and the company do not go their separate ways.

Source: www.toybook.com