Former Nickelodeon Staff Member Jane Millichip Stepping Down As Managing Director Of UK Distributor Zodiak Rights

From C21Media:

Millichip exits in Zodiak shake-up

Jane Millichip is stepping down as MD of UK distributor Zodiak Rights amid a restructure of its London and Paris sales teams.

Millichip will leave the company at the end of January 2013, after overseeing a period of transition during which the distributor’s business will be split into five genre-based divisions, rather than across its two offices.

Non-scripted programming, which includes documentaries, factual and factual entertainment, formats and entertainment programming, will be sold from London while all scripted content, such as drama, comedy and feature films, will be handled from Paris.

The three remaining genres – kids, clips and digital/publishing – will also be sold out of London when the changes come into force on January 1 2013.

Zodiak Rights is consequently seeking a new head for its non-scripted division, with an appointment expected to be announced shortly.

Furthermore, Sara Wookey, the former director of broadcast at NBCUniversal-backed children’s channel KidsCo, is joining Zodiak Rights in the newly created role of chief operating officer.

Currently working as a consultant since her departure from KidsCo last June, Wookey was previously director of broadcast services for EMEA and the UK at Sparrowhawk Media and channel launch manager for Nickelodeon and Paramount Italy [Italia].

Millichip was appointed MD of Zodiak Rights following Zodiak Entertainment’s 2010 acquisition of RDF Media Group, where she was chief operating officer for RDF Rights. She was previously MD of New Zealand’s South Pacific Pictures and a director of acquisitions and development at RDF Rights.

Matthew Frank, CEO of Zodiak Rights, said the new sales structure “will provide absolute clarity for buyers on where they should be going for scripted and non-scripted programming.” Frank was appointed CEO of Zodiak Rights in 2010.

Michael Pickard
15-11-2012
©C21Media

GENRES: Digital, Documentaries, Drama, Entertainment, Factual, Formats, Kids, Movies
PEOPLE: Jane Millichip, Matthew Frank, Sara Wookey
COMPANIES: Zodiak Rights

Also, from Kidscreen:

Millichip to exit amid Zodiak Rights restructure

Jane Millichip is leaving her post as the MD of Zodiak Rights London after the UK distributor’s decided to revamp its sales structure into one based on genres.

Millichip will step down at the end of January after the reorg goes into effect on January 1, 2013.

The new structure divides the Zodiak’s distribution business into five divisions: non-scripted programming (documentaries, factual and factual entertainment, formats and entertainment programming), scripted programming, kids, digital and publishing, and clips. The London office will sell all non-scripted programming, while all scripted programming will be sold out of the Paris office. London will also handle the clips, kids and digital/publishing divisions.

In the meantime, while Zodiak Rights is currently looking to hire a head of the new non-scripted division, it has appointed Sara Wookey to its newly created COO role.

Wookey was most recently a consultant after leaving her role as broadcast director with KidsCo TV in 2011. Prior to KidsCo, she also held stints with Sparrowhawk Media, Nickelodeon and Discovery Networks.

Millichip was previously the COO of RDF Rights.

Tags: Jane Millichip, Sara Wookey, Zodiak Rights

Also, from The Hollywood Reporter:

International Sales and Distribution Banner Zodiak Rights Restructures

The company's U.K. managing director Jane Millichip will exit the company which has been her home since 2010.

LONDON – Veteran TV executive and a familiar face on the international circuit Jane Millichip, the managing director of Zodiak Rights London, is to leave the company in the New Year.

Millichip will exit at the beginning of 2013 as the company, with bases in London and Paris, restructures.

The sales and distributor said Thursday it to revamp along genre-based lines, rather than by territory.

There will be five divisions: non-scripted programming, scripted programming, kids, digital and publishing, and clips.

From next year all non-scripted shows will be sold out of London while all scripted product will be hawked from Paris.

Zodiak Rights' other divisions will be based in London.

The company said it has created a chief operating officer role recruting former Discovery Networks executive Sara Wookey for the job.

Wookey's resume boasts stints at Sparrowhawk Media, Viacom/Nickelodeon and KidsCo TV, where she was director of broadcast.

Zodiak Rights CEO Matthew Frank said: "Jane Millichip has been a huge asset to the company and I am very sorry to see her leave. She has been my wing-woman and support over many years, and life will seem very strange without her."

Frank also said the restructure is a "great way to start the new year" for Zodiak.
Zodiak Rights recently signed a first-look development deal with U.K. indie Western Front Films.

Through the deal buyers were offered a first look at Meet the Izzards, a documentary about comedian and actor Eddie Izzard and his search for his family roots using his own DNA to tell the story of humans and his own ancestry at last month's MIPCOM international TV market.

Also, from Broadcast:

Millichip to exit Zodiak in 2013

Zodiak Rights London managing director Jane Millichip is leaving the distributor at the end of January 2013.

The distributor is restructuring to become a genre based business consisting of five divisions.

Non-scripted programming, scripted programming, kids, digital and publishing and clips will be the main elements of the business.

Non-scripted content will be sold out of London and scripted content will be sold from Paris – all the other divisions will be based in London. The distributor is now recruiting for a head of a new non-scripted division.

As well as restructuring Sara Wookey has been appointed into the new position of chief operating officer. Wookey has held operational roles at Sparrowhawk Media, Viacom/Nickelodeon; Discovery Networks and KidsCo where she was director of broadcast.

Zodiak Rights chief executive Matthew Frank said: “This new structure and appointment is a great way to start the New Year for Zodiak Rights. It will provide absolute clarity for buyers on where they should be going for scripted and non-scripted programming and add great operational expertise to the company.”

He added, “Jane Millichip has been a huge asset to the company and I am very sorry to see her leave. She has been my wing-woman and support over many years and life will seem very strange without her. I fully respect her decision to go and wish her well in her next adventure wherever that may be.”

Millichip was appointed MD of Zodiak Rights following Zodiak Entertainment's 2010 acquisition of RDF Media Group.