Zodiak poaches CBBC boss

Zodiak Media Group’s kids production arm The Foundation has poached CBBC production boss Steven Andrew.

The company, which was founded by Vanessa Hill and Ged Allen in 1994 and sold to RDF in 2006, has hired Andrew, who was head of production at CBBC, the digital kids channel operated by the British public broadcaster, as creative director. He will be The Foundation’s first creative director and will join the company later in the spring.

Andrew will work across new commissions as well as the existing development slate and international coproductions. The Foundation currently produces series including Waybuloo, The Buzzer for Al Jazeera and Nickelodeon US commission Tic Toc House.

Before joining the BBC, he was programme director, ITV Digital Channels and controller of CiTV.

Nigel Pickard, who is Zodiak’s group director of kids’ and family entertainment in the UK and chief executive, Zodiak, Middle East, Asia and Australasia, said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to attract someone of Steven’s calibre to the group. Having worked together at ITV, I know he will be the perfect fit to work with us on UK and international brands.”