Andrews McMeel CEO Andy Sareyan Resigns – Updated with Hugh’s Note to Associates
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Andy Sareyan, Andrews McMeel Universal CEO since 2014, has resigned.
From Kansas City Business Journal:
Kansas City media company Andrews McMeel Universal announced that CEO Andy Sareyan resigned. He had led the company since 2014.
His role with the company will end on Feb. 2. He was hired in 2014 as the first CEO outside the Andrews or McMeel families.
In a release, AMU Chairman Hugh Andrews praised his contributions to the company, which include Andrews McMeel Publishing, Andrews McMeel Syndication, Digtial Products and Andrews McMeel Entertainment.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to be part of this great company for nearly a decade,” Sareyan said in the release. “I’ve enjoyed my time with colleagues, creators, and the Andrews and McMeel families immensely, and am very proud of all we’ve accomplished together.”
The details are behind a paywall.
A recent Andy Sareyan profile from Ingram’s 2023 list of Kansas Ciyty’s Most Influential Business Leaders.
Update:
Here is Hugh Andrews’ letter to associates about the change in leadership:
To All Associates,
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season with your families, and you continue to do so in the coming weeks.
I regret to share the news that Andy Sareyan has decided to resign as Chief Executive Officer of AMU, effective February 2, 2024. When he joined us after an exhaustive executive search nine years ago, we were confident that his skillset and range and depth of experience would be a great fit for AMU. He has proven we were correct in our assumptions.
It is hard to quantify Andy’s contributions to all areas of the company during his tenure; he has been instrumental to the growth and achievements in all divisions since joining us in 2014. Most importantly, he has been a leader in communicating and strengthening the vision of AMU as a unified company by encouraging and fortifying cross-division relationships. This intangible, incalculable element may be one of his most important, and hopefully enduring, contributions. His straightforward, transparent approach has benefited all. He has been an exceptional ambassador for us in the Kansas City community as well. A few additional noteworthy achievements:
He has been a catalyst in the increased investment in sales and marketing initiatives across the company. He has been a driver and advocate of our digital business with both GoComics and The Puzzle Society, the re-launch of the latter attracting a world-class roster of puzzle constructors and partnerships. He has been a passionate supporter and leader of our Syndicate, enabling strong market share gains and adding an impressive number of star features to our fold.
In addition, Andy was energized by and recognized the untapped potential of expanding the offerings from stellar AMU creators, including Gary Larson and Bill Watterson. He drove the initiative to bring The Far Side® into the digital age with the launch of TheFarSide.com, leading to a return of the bestselling calendar of all time, The Far Side® Off-The WallCalendar. He was also instrumental in bringing about two new projects with Bill Watterson: The Calvin and Hobbes Portable Compendium series and The Mysteries.
Andy has also been a strong champion for our many efforts at Andrews McMeel Entertainment, most notably helping to shepherd the Netflix production of “Marmaduke,” a harbinger of terrific new activity from this division.
Finally, his steadfast leadership throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, which presented the most challenging work environment we have ever encountered, is deeply appreciated. In a difficult, uncertain time, the health and well-being of associates was his primary concern. AMU thrived as a business under the most extenuating circumstances.
Andy’s enthusiasm and engagement with AMU associates, creators, and products, as well as his curiosity and consistency in seeking new opportunities for us, will be greatly missed.
We are in the process of finalizing plans for leadership transition and will have additional information after the first of the year. In the meantime, please join me in thanking Andy for all he has achieved for AMU, and in wishing him the very best in the future.
Hoping you all have a wonderful holiday and looking forward to good things in the New Year.
Best regards,
Hugh
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