As a sign of the rapidly growing manga market and the increasingly sophisticated management required to manage that growth, both of the two largest manga companies have hired new Chief Financial Officers since the beginning of February.   And pointing out the differences between the two companies, the new executives have very different backgrounds and orientations.  Tokyopop's focus toward Hollywood, where it sees its greatest opportunities, is reflected in its choice; Viz' greater attention toward the sources of its intellectual property and its corporate parents in Japan (Shogakukan and Shueisha) in its new CFO. 

 

Tokyopop announced this week that Mark Lebowitz had joined the company as Chief Financial Officer.  He came to Tokyopop from his position as Senior VP/CFO of Sony Pictures' worldwide television operations, where he managed business development as well as the financial area.  Prior to his tenure at Sony, Lebowitz also held high-level executive finance positions with HarperCollins Publishers and Paramount Pictures.  Lebowitz said of his new position, 'I look forward to championing the company's increased operating performance and commit to take its reporting methodology to the next level.' 

 

Viz announced in early February that Hidemi Fukuhara had joined the company as its new Vice Chairman and CFO.  As CFO, he replaces long-time Viz executive Satoru Fujii, who is retiring from day-to-day operations but remaining on the board of directors.  Fukuhara joins Viz from his position as VP and Director of Merrill Lynch Japan Securities, Co., Ltd.  He has held a number of other executive and financial positions with various Merrill Lynch divisions in Japan.   Fukuhara listed the Viz management team and large catalog base as among the assets that attracted him to the company.  He said in his new position, he will be, '...helping to drive the executive team, optimizing workflow efficiencies and helping the company focus on the creation of additional services and products that will complement the market's direction.'