First Geneon, then ADV, now Funimation: Two Senior Executives Leave

[Lego]

Was browsing ANN and came across this:

ICv2 is reporting that Funimation's Chief Operating Officer Ward Thomas and Senior Vice President of Marketing Debra Kennedy have left the company. Thomas joined Funimation as Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations in 2005, after it was acquired by Navarre Corporation. At Navarre, he had been an account executive, and later, Director of Sales. According to ICv2, he will be returning to the software industry.

Normally I wouldn't care to much but those are two big names. Maybe the video quality will improve now..

*ba dum pish*

Thats almost like my catchphrase now. But in all seriousness it was the COO and the director of sales. Something must be up in the industry if all sales divisions are having issues. On a related note, Debra is insanely qualified.

[The Great Bear]

Who knows what this means. Executives move all the time without it being any sign of a market or company in trouble.

[slerch666]

I'm taking the position.

I hope that doesn't violate my NDA.

[Suwako Moriya]

Who knows what this means.

Clearly it means that the two in question failed to gather the "Star Crystals" that the Generic Evil Over Lord needs to rule the universe. Thus they are going to be replaced by a new set of super villains for the next arc. :P

[LelouchLamperouge]

This happens in business all the time. People move on to bigger, better things. I don't think we need to make this a big deal. Navarre wouldn't let its biggest (and best) investment go down the drain anyways. I'm sure FUNimation is doing just fine.

No gloom and doom from me. No siree. :)

[neo-pactio]

Maybe the video quality will improve now...
Thats almost like my catchphrase now.

I hate to say it, but it is. But at least there's a chance it could happen, even if it's about only 10% in my book... O.O

[danhawk]

Maybe the video quality will improve now...
Thats almost like my catchphrase now.

I hate to say it, but it is. But at least there's a chance it could happen, even if it's about only 10% in my book... O.O
or it could get alot worst

[Suwako Moriya]

or it could get alot worst

There's also the option of it remaining the same level more or less. Although there will always be the case by case thing. In short if say the next series Funimation licensed were to get Cs across the board, it would not prevent another series after that from getting Bs across the board. Obviously what people really want is As.

[bambruch]

If the news said "Funimation had to lay off xx employees", I would be curios as to why this is happening, thus adding another company to the "trend". This would indicate the industry is confronting some issues to an extent.

However, it says they left, and as some of you say, to maybe better things in their career.

I think we question this type of news based on what's been happening this past few months.

[Lego]

Heh, I used it this time as more as a sarcastic thing instead of a "zomg ze video quality". I posted it because it seemed relevant with all of the things going on in the R1 industry these days. Like with the ADV moves I don't foresee doom and gloom, I just found it interesting that with Geneon going down, and ADV restructuring that Funi would loose their COO and head of sales. It probably means nothing as I'm sure they'll land jobs easily, but it does make me raise an eyebrow when things like this happen so close together.

[something]

The subject line of this thread is quite melodramatic.

Anyway, maybe these guys will fare better than Illumitoon in whatever they turn towards =P

[Lego]

The subject line of this thread is quite melodramatic.

Anyway, maybe these guys will fare better than Illumitoon in whatever they turn towards =P

Illumitoon? Oh god never mention them again. So much for the "I know, lets leave Funi and head up our own worse than 4KIDS company".

[hikaru004]

They probably went to better, higher paying jobs imo.

[Damo]

Given the leading market share that FUNi has, what was it? 23% lead, the likelyhood is that they haven't left in the negative sense they've more than likely been head hunted by another business offering them more pay and a better deal.

At the company my mum works for people are getting head hunted and leaving all the time from the middle and upper managment, but it doesn't mean in the least that the company is in trouble, if anything it's a sign of how well they're doing.

i'd wager the same applies to FUNi.

[ZhenJi]

So, there are 2 upper management positions available at Funi? Time to polish my resume...

Seriously, I'm sure they left for bigger, better things.