Ross resurfaces at Zodiak

Former Endemol global head of format acquisitions Grant Ross, who stepped down last week, has turned up at Zodiak Media where he will drive the company’s own growth in the formats business.

Grant Ross

Ross becomes executive VP of global creative development and format acquisition at Zodiak, responsible for acquisition of international formats around the world and leading in-house format development.

Ross will also co-chair Zodiak’s newly created ‘International Development Board’ together with Joel Karsberg, chief creative of Zodiak Nordic, turning locally produced properties into global formats.

He will also oversee the formats team at Zodiak Rights, in concert with recently appointed CEO Steve Macallister and fellow former BBC Worldwide colleague Tim Mutimer.

The exec lands at Zodiak following the news last week that he was leaving Endemol, which he joined in 2007 as director of international at Endemol France. He was promoted to global head of acquisitions in October 2009.

Ross said: “I am very pleased to be joining Zodiak in this new and exciting phase of its development, and I look forward to bringing together great local production companies to develop and create hit global formats.”

Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, CEO Zodiak Media, added: “Grant is one of the most highly regarded format experts in the world, and I am delighted to have him onboard in this newly created role to drive and expand Zodiak in the business of global formats.”