Fifteen years after founding Madrid, Spain-based global kids and family distribution company Imira Entertainment, Sergi Reitg is stepping down as CEO and will be replaced by former Disney and NBCUniversal senior exec Paul Robinson.
According to Imira, Retig’s immediate plan is to leave on a high note and take a break from the daily demands of leading a TV distribution and production business.
His departure comes as Toonz Media-owned Imira increased its sales revenues by 20% in the current financial year—the highest ever in the company’s history—through a number of key content partnerships and distribution deals with digital platforms including Netflix and HBO.
International media exec Robinson will take the reins after previously holding senior positions at companies including Disney EMEA (where he served as SVP and MD from 1998 to 2004) and NBCUniversal. At the latter, he was co-founder and CEO of KidsCo TV from 2005 to 2011. More recently, Robinson was EVP at German producer/distributor Your Family Entertainment from 2013 to 2016 and continues to maintain a director’s role at UK-based media consultancy Creative Media Partners.
In his new role at Imira, Robinson will look to ensure a smooth leadership transition while strengthening the company’s expanding global distribution business. As Imira grows, it continues to maintain strong ties with Spanish linear broadcasters including TV3, RTVE and Telefonica, as well as global broadcasters including Disney, Viacom and Turner.
India-based Toonz Media Group acquired Imira in 2015. Since the deal, Imira has continued to act as a separate production and distribution entity. The two companies have been leveraging their regional footholds to capitalize on both content creation and worldwide distribution.
Imira’s portfolio includes series, short-form content and films targeting preschoolers to tweens.