Pickard Steps Down as CEO Zodiak UK Kids BRANDORA Editorial Staff - April 2014

 
Departure marks the beginning of a new relationship with Zodiak Media as Pickard plans return to his first love of programme making and to pursue new ventures.

Zodiak Media has today announced that Nigel Pickard is stepping down from his role as CEO of Zodiak UK Kids and Chair of The Foundation, but will return as a consultant and advisor on a range of projects for the company. He will also continue as an Executive Producer on key titles for The Foundation including The Floogals, the brand new CGI and live-action series co-produced with US pre-school cable channel Sprout, and distributed by Zodiak Kids. The Foundation will continue to operate under Managing Director Gwen Hughes who was appointed to the role last year and oversees the companies programming slate which includes Mister Maker, Big Barn Farm, Dani's Castle, Waybuloo, Tickety Toc and Zack and Quack. Hughes takes on board Nigel's managerial responsibilities in the interim until such time as a permanent successor is found.

Pickard joined RDF Media Group as Director of Kids, Family Entertainment and Drama in 2006. Following the acquisition by Zodiak in 2010 he took up his current role of CEO MEAA, Zodiak UK Kids, in addition to Chairman of UK Production Company, The Foundation.

Pickard's recent commissions for The Foundation include The Millie Show for CBBC, a Zack and Quack special for Nickelodeon, and The Floogals.

Nigel Pickard said: "It's been an exciting 8 years with RDF and more recently at Zodiak Media and I'm tremendously proud of what we have achieved at The Foundation. Having been so closely involved in all the projects has enticed me to have a hands-on involvement with shows as exciting and innovative as The Floogals"

Marc-Antoine d'Halluin, CEO Zodiak Media, said: "Nigel has played a defining role in building the Foundation to a centre of creative excellence, making it a key part of Zodiak Media's international kid's footprint alongside Marathon Media, Tele Images, and Zodiak Rights, and I am delighted that Nigel will continue to work with The Foundation on its first US commission The Floogals, and with Zodiak going forward.”

Pickard has worked in television since 1972, developing and producing a wide range of programmes before becoming Controller of Children's and Family at TVS in 1986. In 1998, he moved to ITV to be Controller of Children's and Youth Programmes and in 2000 he was appointed Controller of BBC Children's overseeing the launch of two new channels, CBBC and CBeebies. In 2003, Nigel was invited back to ITV as Director of Programmes, where his remit was the scheduling and commissioning of the entire ITV output including X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and Doc Martin.

Zodiak Kids division includes production companies Marathon Media and Tele Images Productions (France) and The Foundation (UK), with sales handled by a dedicated team within Zodiak Rights.

Its catalogue includes Totally Spies!, the international hit animation series; Tickety Toc, the Nick Jr. worldwide animated series; Waybuloo, the CBeebies pre-school hit; Redakai, sold to 160 countries over the world; Mister Maker, the ultimate arts and craft show; Street Football, one of the top rated animated shows in France and Italy; The Ranch, a hit on TF1 and Super! Italy; the recently launched Lolirock; Extreme Football and Zack & Quack; the new pre-school show which follows the adventures of a boy and his duck as they journey through a pop-up book.

Plans for a new appointment in the Zodiak Kids Division are underway.