Gruen EP Sophia Zachariou to leave ABC

Sophia Zachariou, the deputy head of entertainment and executive producer of some of the highest rating programs on the ABC, including Gruen, Kitchen Cabinet and The Checkout, will leave the public broadcaster in early January 2016.

During her eight years at ABC TV, Zachariou has overseen the development, commissioning and production of programs across many genres including Gruen, Judith Lucy's Spiritual Journey, Media Circus, The Chaser’s War on Everything, the Kitchen Cabinet election specials featuring Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott, the Agony series, Saturday Night Crack Up, the ABC’s New Year’s Eve broadcast and The Checkout.

Zachariou also developed unique digital formats such as Canberra al desko with Annabel Crabb, a huge hit on ABC iview and she was the international format executive for successful ABC brand The New Inventors when it was sold internationally.

“I’ve been immensely proud of the shows I’ve been able to offer up to Australian audiences, but it’s time for me to take on new challenges outside of the ABC,” she said.

Richard Finlayson, director of ABC TV, said of Zachariou, “Sophia is a long-standing and much-loved member of the ABC TV team and one of its great creative forces. She leaves a great legacy: a stable of iconic entertainment brands and outstanding Australian talent. She will be missed and we wish her every success in her future endeavours."