Stuart J. Levy
Chairman & CEO, TOKYOPOP
Doing Business with Japan

Stuart Levy's multifaceted entertainment background includes more than 10 years of experience in creative development, art direction, licensing, production, contract law and finance. He founded TOKYOPOP(r) in 1996, and through his leadership the company has become the leading publisher of manga in North America. Fluent in Japanese, Mr. Levy is also an accomplished author, producer, and music composer.

As TOKYOPOP's CEO, Mr. Levy has raised over $12 million in equity, and has personally negotiated and completed licensing deals with dozens of major Japanese, Korean and American publishing, video game, animation, music and film companies. Mr. Levy has taken TOKYOPOP's product lines beyond its core book publishing business and into animation and docu-reality series for DVD and television. He is currently spearheading the company's expansion into broadcast distribution and merchandising.

As the company's CCO, Mr. Levy has launched all TOKYOPOP product lines, and continues to produce, create and shape content, in addition to overseeing property development and acquisitions. An artistic visionary, Mr. Levy's production, music composition and writing talents have been the driving force behind the company's premiere properties, such as Initial D, Rave Master and Karma Club.

Prior to founding TOKYOPOP, Mr. Levy created, produced and published multimedia properties for CD-ROM and the Internet while living in Japan. He began his career as an attorney after graduating from Georgetown University Law Center (JD 1991) and is a member of the California State Bar. Mr. Levy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Business from UCLA and has studied at Tokyo University and Keio University.