PASCAL BRETON
Founder & CEO
In 1990, Pascal created his own production company, Marathon, in association with Olivier Brémond. Beginning in 2006 after Olivier Brémond’s departure from the company, Pascal Breton served as president of Marathon Group where, among others, he produced Babar, St Tropez, and more. In the 18 years since the creation of Marathon in 1990, Pascal Breton was able to build the company into the most ‘international’ of French production companies – and also the most profitable, when the company was sold to De Agostini, united with Zodiak In 2008. After his 5 – year contract with Zodiak ended in early 2013, Pascal Breton launched Federation Entertainment.
LIONEL UZAN
Co-Founder, MD of FEDERATION ENTERTAINMENT
Former acquisitions, productions and intl. distribution director at the SND – M6 Group, the production and distribution label of French broadcaster M6, Lionel Uzan has joined the Federation as Managing Director, a central position overseeing the studio’s full production and distribution activities for France, Europe and the US.
DAVID MICHEL
President, Cottonwood Media
Co-Founder, Federation Entertainment
Head of Kids & Family programs, sales and group marketing – Federation Entertainment.
David co-founded Marathon Media in 2001, which rapidly became one of the top producers of animated programming with hits like Totally Spies. In 2014, he founded Cottonwood, specializing in premium, international family content both animation and live action. Cottonwood is now a sister company of Federation entertainment.
STÉPHANE SPERRY
Co-founder, FEDERATION ENTERTAINMENT
President, LIAISON Films
Stéphane Sperry began his film career in the 1970’s. He served as head of Island Records in France and later joined Canal+ as head of Ellipse Programmes. In 1990, he left Canal+ to become President of Alliance International. He returned to the Canal group in 1994 as executive VP of programming & strategic development at Studio Canal, and later became co-president of Canal+ U.S. operations.
In 2002, Sperry founded Liaison Films, through which he produced Assault on Precint 13 and La Marque des Anges – Miserere and executive-produced The Adventures of Tintin with Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks.
BENOÎT LACOMBE
Chief Operating Officer, FEDERATION ENTERTAINMENT
A graduate of the NEOMA Business school (ESC Rouen), Benoît Lacombe began his career as Audit Manager at EY from 1998 to 2003. He subsequently worked as financial director of the TV production subsidiaries of Lagardère Group from 2003 to 2010, before joining the Zodiak Media group as Financial Director of Zodiak France, a post he held until 2015. Since then he has been COO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures.
THIERRY SOREL
Head of Drama
Thierry Sorel first started working for France Télévisions in 2006, where he headed up the youth programming division for France 2. In 2008 he became joint Director of Fiction Programming at France 3, and was responsible for the hit daily show PBLV (Plus Belle La Vie) as well as Village Français.
Prior to joining Federation Entertainment, Sorel was Head of Drama at France Télévisions network France 2, where he successfully worked on series such as Les Témoins (aka Witnesses) and 10% (aka Call My Agent!).
SERGE HAYAT
Serge Hayat is a serial entrepreneur and currently one of the main cinema and television financier in France. He structured several financing deals for producers and distributors. Film industry’s participations total 100 M€ in more than 300 films and TV series – including French academy awards (150+ nominations, 30+ Cesars) and Cannes, Berlin, Venice awards winning films (60+ selections, 15+ awards, including “Dheepan” 2015 Palme d’Or). He is president of the Essec Business School Media & Entertainment Chair.
ASHLEY STERN
Head of US Television- LA Office
American development and production executive bringing years of experience collaborating with some of the industry’s most prestigious networks like Fox TV, Starz Network and HBO, and top companies such as Endemol Worldwide, Scott Free Productions, & DreamWorks TV.
MONICA LEVY
Senior Vice President of Sales and Acquisitions – Federation Kids and Family
Recently named SVP Sales and Acquisitions for Federation Kids and Family, Monica joined the Federation team after years of experience at Marathon and Zodiak. Monica is also responsible for drama sales in English speaking territories.
JEAN-MICHEL CISZEWSKI
Head of International
Ranks among the industry’s top distribution executives. Former president of Alliance Atlantis Television Europe and Head of Sales for Cookie Jar, Jean-Michel Ciszewski joined the Federation as Head of International sales and coproduction.
