Zodiak USA chief exits

Zodiak USA CEO Grant Mansfield is leaving the company and is set to return to his native UK in June.

Grant Mansfield

Mansfield leaves after two years in the LA-based role, bringing forward a long-planned move back to the UK, and parent Zodiak Media will now begin the process of selecting his successor.

Zodiak USA’s chief creative officer Natalka Znak will take over his role in an acting capacity with immediate effect.

“Over the next few months, Grant is going to be considering what to do when he returns to the UK. But he’s committed, first and foremost, to leaving a thriving and stable business in LA,” said Zodiak CEO David Frank.

Mansfield relocated to the US in early 2010 having previously been director of factual, entertainment and comedy for RDF Media, which was acquired by Zodiak later that year. He had joined RDF in 2002.

During his tenure at Zodiak USA, the prodco picked up commissions such as ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap and Secret Millionaire, TruTV’s Hardcore Pawn and Syfy’s version of BBC3 drama format Being Human.

Frank said it was “business at usual” for the unit and added Znak would continue to focus on securing new business.

“I have total confidence in entrusting the business to the existing senior management team in LA pending the appointment of a new CEO, as we look to build on the success of the past couple of years under Grant’s tenure.”