IDW has promoted Jerry Bennington, previously IDW executive v-p of product management, to president of IDW Publishing succeeding Chris Ryall, who announced that he is leaving the company. In addition, Jud Meyers, IDW sales director, has been promoted to IDW publisher, and Rebekahn Cahalin, IDW general manager, has been named general manager and executive v-p of operations for IDW Publishing and IDW Entertainment.
However, in an update to this story, less than a week after being named IDW publisher, Jud Meyers has been placed on administrative leave, according to reports in the Hollywood Reporter and The Beat. Jerry Bennington, recently named president of IDW, will take over as publisher on an interim basis. IDW has not provided a reason for Meyer’s suspension. But it is also being reported that Carr D’Angelo, co-owner of the L.A. comics Shop Earth2 and a former partner of Meyers, has provided information about a lawsuit he filed in 2012 against Meyers alleging breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and misappropriation of trade secrets. This is a developing story.
These new appointments are the latest wave in a series of leadership and executive changes at IDW Publishing - one of the largest independent comics publishers in the country - that began in early 2019 with the departure of former IDW Media Holdings CEO Kerry McCluggage. Indeed, the new promotions were announced by Ezra Rosensaft, who was promoted to CEO of IDW Media Holdings, parent company of IDW Publishing on July 21. Rosensaft was formerly CFO of IDW Media Holdings.
As president, Bennington will oversee all IDW strategic business units. In his former role of product management, Bennington is credited with establishing IDW Limited, which produces collectible products based on IDW properties, and IDW Games, which creates tabletop games, and expanding licensed IP opportunities. Before joining IDW, Bennington was president of 3 Point Entertainment and also worked at Upper Deck Games.
Newly appointed IDW publisher Jud Meyers will direct all IDW Publishing production and publication. Before joining IDW, he was director of sales and marketing at Humanoids Publishing. In her new role, Cahalin will now add head of operations to her responsibilities, overseeing digital production, digital publishing, and the integration of all IDW operations and business activities. She joined IDW in 2009.
“As IDW accelerates its growth trajectory as a fully integrated multimedia company, we are very fortunate to have Jerry Bennington and Jud Meyers to assume these key roles at IDW Publishing. We are equally as fortunate to have Rebekah Cahalin step into the general manager and executive v-p of operations positions," Rosensaft said in a statement.
This story has been updated with new information on Meyers who has been placed on administrative leave by IDW.
