Summary
Joe Lefavi is a licensing and media strategist with 20+ years building award-winning, best-selling licensed content across film, TV, publishing, gaming, and tabletop. As CEO of Genuine Entertainment he’s driven programs for major IPs like Alien, Dune, Batman, Apex Legends, Blade Runner and Vampire: The Masquerade, delivering 5M+ units and tens of millions in revenue in four years while earning 50+ industry awards and nominations. He blends deal-making, creative direction, production oversight and go-to-market execution—often soliciting rights, packaging teams and shepherding approvals end-to-end—to turn beloved franchises into commercial hits. Prior roles at Lionsgate, Psyop, Jim Henson Company and his own agencies show a rare mix of studio-level marketing chops and hands-on franchise development. An atypical software-minded creator and visual/game programmer by training, he uniquely pairs product and technical sensibilities with deep IP and fan-first thinking. Known for turning niche fandoms into scalable licensing programs, he thrives on surprising collaborations that align brand integrity with new revenue streams.
10 years of coding experience
6 years of employment as a software developer
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Film/Cinema/Video Studies, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Film/Cinema/Video Studies at University of Michigan