New chief for Magnolia Italy

The CEO of Zodiak Media-owned prodco Magnolia Italy is stepping down and will be replaced by Leonardo Pasquinelli from Endemol Italia as MD.

Ilaria Dallatana is relinquishing the top spot at Magnolia though she will remain on the company’s board and will also retain a position on Zodiak’s international development board.

The reshuffle also sees Magnolia chief content officer Francesca Canetta leave.

Pasquinelli comes in from Endemol Italia, where he was VP of operations. He will become MD of Magnolia from the middle of next month.

Dallatana and Canetta helped create Magnolia in 2001, producing and adapting entertainment formats for all the leading Italian television networks.

Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, who replaced David Frank as Zodiak CEO last year, said of the changes: “I am delighted to welcome Leonardo to the company. He joins Magnolia with a great deal of experience in the field in the Italian market, and will no doubt add to the company’s success.

“I would like to thank Ilaria and Francesca for their fantastic contribution to the success of Magnolia and look forward to Ilaria’s continued support and involvement at both a Magnolia and Zodiak level.”

It’s the latest in a string of exec changes at Zodiak companies since d’Halluin’s arrival. Vincent Chalvon-Demersay, CEO of its French children’s production company Marathon Media, left the company towards the end of last year, while David Frank’s brother Matthew, last week stepped down as CEO of distribution wing Zodiak Rights with former BBC Worldwide sales chief Steve Macallister taking over.