Ira Friedman Leaves Topps

Ira Friedman has resigned from Topps as vice president, global licensing, to launch a new business venture.  

Beginning Aug. 1, Ira Friedman Enterprises will specialize in IP content creation, product development, licensing and collaborations. 

Friedman started his career in publishing, working in circulation, which gave way to publishing fan-based magazines such as Starlog and Fangoria. He then went on to work at Lucasfilm to helm the “Star Wars” fan club. Friedman pitched a publishing idea to Topps in the late 1980s, leading to an executive leadership position for over 30 years. In 2022, Fanatics acquired the Topps company.  

“After more than 30 wonderful years at Topps, I am moving on,” says Friedman. “I will be pursuing a handful of exciting new opportunities – to create fun stuff on my own as well as in partnership with good people I care about.”