Harold Chizick (pictured, left) and Jennifer Chizick (pictured, right), the founders of Genius Brands International-owned marketing agency ChizComm, have left both companies effective today.

In a release, Harold Chizick attributed their departure to organizational changes, as well as a lack of alignment over growth strategies.

Genius Brands will continue to own and operate the ChizComm brands, and the rest of the agency’s staff—including president Donna MacNeil—are staying in place, according to Chizick. Kidscreen reached out to Genius Brands for comment, but had not heard back at press time.

GBI finished acquiring ChizComm and its media research, planning and buying division ChizComm Beacon Media in February 2021. Harold Chizick joined Genius Brands as president of content sales, marketing and consumer products. He also continued to serve as CEO of ChizComm, with his wife Jennifer Chizick installed as COO—a role she’s held since the company launched in 2013.

Through the ChizComm banner, Genius Brands assumed a number of large clients in the kids business, including 9 Story Media Group, Moose Toys and Jazwares.

In the last year since being acquired, ChizComm has signed Never Wrong Toys to serve as master toy partner for the Rainbow Rangers series and expanded OTT platform Kartoon Channel! onto Pluto TV, according to a statement from Harold and Jennifer. 

“Business will continue as usual under current management, with Donna MacNeil as President of ChizComm and Kathleen Campisano as Global Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager of ChizComm Beacon Media subsidiaries, ” GBI said in a statement to Kidscreen. “The Company believes this decision to be in the best interest of its shareholders and customers.”

Updated with statement from Genius Brands International.