Following a series of recent strategic expansion efforts,Genius Brands International, Inc, announced its latest executive appointment to be Zrinka Dekic as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions. “We are excited to welcome Zrinka as Chief Financial Officer of Genius Brands at this major inflection point in the Company’s development, given the rapid revenue growth, expanded distribution, and a powerful slate of new content," Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands, Andy Heyward, said.
Upon assuming her new role, Dekic will be tasked with overseeing all The move follows the company's Canada’s WOW! Unlimited Media, Inc., and Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG stake acquisitions, is said to strengthen its portfolio of global operations. Bob Denton will assume the new role of Executive Vice President of Finance and Accounting at Genius Brands. “Bob Denton has made tremendous contributions to the Company as CFO over the past years, as we transformed Genius Brands from an emerging children’s’ entertainment Company to a diversified global organization with a solid balance sheet, positioned for long term growth," Heyward said. "We look forward to his continued contributions as Executive Vice President of Finance and Accounting, as we accelerate our focus on expansion.”
The executive comes into the company with nearly two decades of entertainment and financial experience under her belt after contributing to investment management and corporate financing operations at The Walt Disney Company and Goldman Sachs, where she also worked on strategic planning and development and oversaw nearly $30 billion of assets during her time on the U.S. Fundamental Equity Portfolio Management team.
Most recently, she served as Vice President of Houlihan Lokey’s Investment Banking Technology, Media & Telecom Group, where she was responsible for business development and execution across the sector, including media and entertainment, digital media, streaming technologies, animation and video games. "In particular, Zrinka brings a proven track record in M&A, which will continue to be an important component of our strategy as we execute on our vision of becoming one of the world’s leading global children’s entertainment companies," " Heyward said. "In support of this goal, she brings extensive relationships across Wall Street and the entertainment industry, spanning animation, media and entertainment, sports, and consumer product companies across North America and globally."
“I am delighted and honored to join Genius Brands International at this critical juncture of the disruptive technological changes in the industry as well as the explosive global demand for children’s content," Dekic said. "With Genius’s recently announced acquisition of a prolific animation producer WOW! Unlimited Media in Canada and its investment in Your Family Entertainment in Europe, as well as the fact that Genius Brands, through Kartoon Channel! Worldwide, controls both content and distribution, it is poised for global expansion and growth. I am thrilled to be joining the Company at such an exciting time and to be part of the leadership team that will take Genius Brands to the next level.”