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On 02 February 2026, Zoo Digital Group PLC announced that Chairman Gillian Wilmot CBE and Non-Executive Director Mickey Kalifa will step down during 2026, with Nathalie Schwarz assuming the role of Chair. These board changes follow the completion of $7.7 million in annualised fixed cost savings. The company also reported being selected by two major studio customers for localisation, media, and end-to-end services, from which it has received initial orders.
| Date | 2 Feb 2026 |
| Time | 07:00:09 |
| Category | Board changes |
| ID | 2695R |
2 February 2026
ZOO DIGITAL GROUP PLC
("ZOO", the "Group" or the "Company")
Board and Commercial Update
ZOO Digital Group plc (AIM: ZOO), the tech-enabled localisation and digital media services partner to the global entertainment industry, provides an update on trading and announces forthcoming planned changes to the Board.
Commercial Update
As noted in the FY26 Interim Results, the Company has seen an increase in Request for Proposal (RFP) activity, a sign of an industry returning to business-as-usual following a period of prolonged disruption.
ZOO has recently been selected to provide localisation, media services and end-to-end services across two major studio customers from which it has since received initial orders, with the Company's end-to-end model, technological competence and faster fulfilment having been critical to selection as part of a competitive RFP process.
A further update on trading for FY26 will be provided in April.
Proposed Board Changes
Following the completion of $7.7 million in annualised fixed cost savings announced in the FY26 Interim Results to rightsize its operations and create a sustainable profitable platform for the future, the following planned changes to the Board will take place during the course of 2026.
Gillian Wilmot CBE, Chairman and Non-Executive Director who joined the ZOO Board in July 2019, has decided to step down no later than the Company's 2026 AGM. In addition, Mickey Kalifa who joined the Board in October 2017 will step down as Non-Executive Director in line with best practice corporate governance as he approaches his maximum nine year tenure as an independent Non-Executive Director. The departure dates of Gillian Wilmot and Mickey Kalifa will be announced in due course.
Nathalie Schwarz, currently a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of the Company, will assume the role of Chair with effect from Gillian's departure.
Nathalie has served as a Non-Executive Director of the Company since January 2022 and as Senior Independent Director since March 2024. She has 20 years of international board-level experience with expertise in the media and digital technology sector. Nathalie was previously Group Commercial and Development Director at Channel 4 Television Corporation and Group Strategy and Development Director at Capital Radio plc. She has also served in non-executive roles at Wilmington plc, Matomy Media plc, BigHand, Optionis and Amiad Water Systems plc. Nathalie is a qualified corporate finance lawyer and has recently represented technology suppliers in multiple roles with The International Trade Association for the Broadcast and Media Industry (IABM), including Vice Chair of the Association, Chair of the Supervisory Board and Vice Chair of the Honorary Members Board.
The Board has commenced a search process to appoint two new independent Non-Executive Directors and will announce further updates on these new appointments in due course.
Gillian Wilmot, outgoing Chairman, commented:
"My six years plus tenure has been a rollercoaster ride of profound changes in the global streaming market with significant growth and scaling then a series of major industry "interruptions" requiring a significant cost restructure. I am confident the business is now well positioned for the next phase of its development as we are repositioned for growth and ZOO has my full support as a shareholder."
Nathalie Schwarz, Senior Independent Director and Chair-designate, said:
"On behalf of the Board and the Company, I would like to thank Gillian and Mickey for their significant contributions to ZOO Digital. They have played important roles in restructuring the business and establishing a platform for cash-generative operations, improved profitability and sustainable growth. I look forward to chairing a refreshed Board, which will be focused to reflect ZOO's refined positioning, latest market trends and to capitalise on emerging opportunities to process more content in new formats and at faster speeds."
Stuart Green, CEO, commented:
"I would like to thank Gillian for her six year plus tenure as Chairman and for her warm and resilient leadership through scaling our operations and cost-restructuring to deliver a sustainable growth model in current market conditions."
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About ZOO Digital Group plc:
ZOO Digital partners with major Hollywood studios and streaming services to tell their stories to audiences around the world.
The Group's localisation and digital media services allow customers to globalise content across different territories, languages and distribution platforms, extending its reach and profitability.
Deploying proprietary technology platforms and 12,000+ freelancers, ZOO offers end-to-end dubbing, subtitling and captioning, metadata creation and localisation, mastering, artwork creation and localisation, and media processing.
ZOO has frameworks in place with all major Hollywood studios and streaming services, helping them to capitalise on new opportunities in a fast-paced industry. Customers include Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix and Paramount Global.
Founded in 2001, the Group has a global presence with dedicated hubs in Los Angeles, London, Dubai, Turkey, South Korea, India, Spain, Italy and Germany as well as a development and production centre in Sheffield, UK.