Former Hasbro VP of global publishing and G.I. Joe franchise lead Michael Kelly has opened up a new Boston-based consulting company. 

Extensive Enterprises specializes in offering analysis and feedback on IP development, publishing, brand licensing strategy and fractional leadership. Its initial client roster includes King Features Syndicate (Cuphead, Popeye, Flash Gordon), toyco Valaverse (Action Force figures) and Toonz Media Group/Gold Valley Films for their upcoming CG-animated series Pierre The Pigeon-Hawk. 

Kelly worked at Hasbro for a total of 18 years, heading up the toyco’s publishing division in several executive roles. By the time he left in December 2023, he was overseeing 1,000 new titles a year and a business that generated more than US$200 million in annual revenue. 

One of his more recent achievements at Hasbro was a 2023 licensing deal with Image Comics to launch a new “Energon Universe” line of co-branded Transformers and G.I. Joe comics under Robert Kirkman’s Skybound imprint. The books sold more than a million copies within nine months of serialization, and Transformers #1 became Hasbro’s best comic launch of all time, selling 200,000-plus copies after its first month at market.