After 16 years as head of Tele Images, Philippe Alessandri is stepping down as president and exiting the Zodiak Kids-owned company. Benoît Runel (pictured), meanwhile, has been tapped to run Tele Images and Zodiak’s other French studio, Marathon Media as MD of Zodiak Kids France.

As founder and president of Tele Images, Alessandri helped develop and produce series such as Street Football, The Ranch, Sally Bollywood and The Basketeers. He also took on the role of CEO at Marathon Media, after Pascal Breton stepped down last year.

Runel now takes the lead in the newly created MD role. He joined Zodiak in 2009, and was previously exec producer and SVP of international drama at Zodiak France. Prior to that, he held various roles in the international TV biz, including EVP of programming for Fox Kids Europe, where he created and oversaw the launch of Fox Kids France, and director of children’s acquisitions for TF1.