BenoÎt Runel

Zodiak Kids announced the appointment of BenoÎt Runel as Managing Director Zodiak Kids for France in a new position overseeing French production companies Marathon Media and Télé Images Productions. Zodiak Kids, a division of Zodiak Media since 2011, encompasses Marathon Media and Tele Images Productions (France) and The Foundation (UK) as well as dedicated international sales and consumer products teams.

This news comes as Philippe Alessandri steps down as Président Télé Images Productions and leaves Zodiak Media after 16 years with the business.

Runel takes on his new promotion with immediate effect reporting into Zodiak Kids CEO Jean-Philippe Randisi. Prior to this he held the role of Executive Producer & Senior Vice President of International Drama Zodiak France overseeing international co-productions. He joined Zodiak in 2009. Previously he has held wide-ranging roles in international television including; creating and overseeing the launch of Fox Kids France; EVP Programming Fox Kids Europe, launching worldwide animation hits such as Pokemon and Marathon’s Totally Spies; and Director of Acquisitions Children’s TF1.

Marathon Media and Télé Images Productions recent successes and current productions include a number of series such as; The Ranch, a huge hit in France and Germany; Lolirock, the brand new girls series bursting with magic, mystery and music; Extreme Football, the full CGI series packed with spectacular challenges; and Get Blake!, the unique slapstick animated cartoon series launched on Nickelodeon in 2015.