David Michel exits Zodiak’s Marathon

David Michel has followed Vincent Chalvin-Demersay out the door at Zodiak-owned Marathon Media, the company they cofounded 13 years ago.

Michel (left) was general manager at Marathon and also held a seat on Zodiak Media’s executive board but is now leaving. Chalvon-Demersay left in November, selling his company shares in Zodiak to company owner De Agostini in the process.

Michel’s will officially exit on March 31, leaving COO Ambroise Delorme and chief creative officer Eryk Casemiro in charge. Furthermore, Zodiak Media president and CEO Marc-Antoine d’Halluin has added the role of president, Marathon Media, to his titles.

Both departures have come as Zodiak continues to overhaul its top team following the news d’Halluin was replacing David Frank as at the top of the tree. Frank’s brother Matthew, who was CEO of Zodiak Rights, was later replaced by former BBC Worldwide sales boss Steve Macaliister as chief exec of the rights division.

Marathon is best known as the producer of kids series Totally Spies!, which is thought to be the first animated series from Europe to broadcast in the US. It also produced Gormiti and Rekkit Rabbit and is creating Get Blake for Nickelodeon’s US and international channels and Gulli in France.

“The launch of Marathon Media with Vincent Chalvon Demersay has been a great adventure and the decision to leave was a difficult one,” said Michel. “I am fortunate to have been able to work with the Marathon Media and Zodiak Media staff during all these years. I entirely trust the management, the talented directors, producers and studio to further develop the success of our productions. I will continue to work alongside the Marathon Media team until March 31^st to ensure a smooth transition towards our partners worldwide and internal teams.”

D’Halluin, said: “Marathon Media is one of the group’s major companies and, owing much to David Michel’s talent, has created international hits which continue to contribute to the success of Zodiak Kids even today. I wish him every success in his future endeavours.

“I have every confidence in Ambroise Delorme, COO Marathon Media; Eryk Casemiro, chief creative officer of the company; and the Marathon Media staff to pursue the ambitious ongoing developments and create tomorrow’s greatest animation hits.”

Other changes at Zodiak in the past year have seen Pascal Breton exit French drama producer Marathon (a different Zodia unit) and Joely Fether leave her role as Zodiak’s UK and Benelux CEO.