Zinc’s Farmbrough to step down

Zinc Media Group’s commercial director and the founder and CEO of UK prodco Reef Television is stepping down.

Richard Farmbrough

Richard Farmbrough has resigned from his positions and will leave Zinc, which acquired Reef in 2015, in August.

He will not be replaced at Zinc, which has now named former chief financial officer (CFO) David Galan as CEO, following previous incumbent Mark Wood’s departure in 2016. Consultant Katie O’Reilly will replace Galan as CFO on an interim basis.

Farmbrough said: “I’m immensely proud of everything that we have achieved as a company. The quality of our programme making has always been paramount. We have grown the careers of many brilliant people and we have always treated contributors to the highest standards. And we have managed to win some awards on the way.”

Peter Bertram, chairman of Zinc, add: “We wish to thank Richard for all his strategic input and support and fully understand that, after setting up Reef Television some 14 years ago, he is looking for a new challenge. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Farmbrough’s remit had included overseeing a number of production outfits at Zinc (fka Ten Alps), including Brook Lapping, Blakeway and Films of Record.

He also revamped the Reef management team in November 2016, after the exit of MD Paul Hanrahan. Rob Dersley, who has executive produced Reef series such as Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is for BBC1, now oversees operations.