Nigel Pickard

Nigel has worked in television since 1972, developing and producing a wide range of programmes before becoming Controller of Children’s and Family at TVS in 1986.  In 1998, he moved to ITV to be Controller of Children’s and Youth Programmes, responsible for the commissioning and scheduling of all ITV children’s output.  In 2000, he was appointed Controller of BBC Children’s overseeing the launch of two new channels, CBBC and CBeebies.

In 2003, Nigel was invited back to ITV as Director of Programmes, where his remit was the scheduling and commissioning of the entire ITV output including all drama, entertainment, comedy, factual and religious programmes as well as the acquisition of all films and content from abroad.

After 3 successful years overseeing major commissions such as X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Dancing on Ice, Doc Martin and Parkinson, he joined RDF as Group Director of Kids, Family Entertainment and Drama, where he has been responsible for commissions such as ‘Mister Maker’, ‘Big Barn Farm’, ‘Dani’s Castle’, ‘Tickety Toc’, ‘Fort Boyard’ and the CBeebies landmark series, ‘Waybuloo’.

After the merger with Zodiak Group in 2010, Nigel assumed his current role of CEO MEAA* and Zodiak Kids UK.  He is also Chairman of our subsidiary production company, The Foundation.