Slow start for new Zodiak Americas

Zodiak Media chief operating officer Jonny Slow is swapping London for Los Angeles, taking up the top role at a new unified Americas unit.

Jonny Slow

Zodiak Americas will bring the production giant’s content creation businesses in North, Central and South America under one roof. This will “provide a platform for their future expansion efforts,” according to the firm.

Slow, who became group chief operating officer in 2010 after Zodiak acquired UK prodco RDF Media, will be CEO. Zodiak USA’s chief operating officer Tony Yates and chief financial officer Andy Lennon continue in the same roles at the expanded group.

The move is part of a long-term plan to focus more attention on the Americas. Slow will oversee a period of “increased investment” in the region, working with recently appointed Zodiak USA CEO Natalka Znak, Zodiak Latino CEO Harris Whitbeck and Zodiak Brasil CEO Carla Affonso.

Slow’s switch will trigger a restructure at Zodiak’s headquarters in London. A spokeswoman declined to comment further but said an announcement would follow “within days.”

One result of the Americas restructure will be the discontinuation of the Zodiak North America and Zodiak America Latina divisions. This will not result in job losses, according to the spokeswoman. The chief of the latter division, Giorgio Gori, stepped down in November last year, a little over six months after taking up the post.

But, “it is more than a branding activity. It’s really bringing together the three parts of the company in the Americas,” she added.