Avi Arad is an Israeli-born businessman. He became the CEO of the company Toy Biz in the 1990s; when, in a complicated deal, Toy Biz took over Marvel Comics he became that company's CEO. He has been instrumental in getting the company out of bankruptcy and expanding its profile through licensing deals and movies. Currently he heads Marvel Studios.

Arad can be seen in the movie X-Men as a diplomat at a party.

On July 4, 2003, Arad became a naturalized citizen of the United States.