Cyma Zarghami (born December 15, 1962) is an Iranian-born American film studio and former cable television executive who served as the president of Nickelodeon and Viacom Media Networks' Kids & Family Group from 2006 to 2018. She is the founder and CEO of MiMo Studios.
Early life Zarghami was born in Abadan, Iran to an Iranian father, Gholam, and a Scottish mother, Catherine. The family later moved to Canada and finally to Englewood, New Jersey, where she graduated in the class of 1980 from the Dwight-Englewood School and was a recipient of the school's Distinguished Alumni Award. At Dwight-Englewood, she played lacrosse.
In 1980, Zarghami entered the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont as an elementary education major, later changing her major to English; she did not complete the degree. She was awarded an honorary diploma by the University of Vermont College of Education and Social Services in 2000.
Career Zarghami traveled in Europe after leaving college, then returned to Burlington to work for Business Digest.
Zarghami joined Nickelodeon as a scheduling clerk in 1985. She moved up through the programming department and became the channel's general manager in 1996, overseeing programming, scheduling, acquisitions, marketing, and day-to-day management of the network. She was promoted to general manager and then executive vice-president in 1997. In 2004, the position of president of Nickelodeon Television was created for her, where she oversaw production and development for the network, along with marketing, programming and creativity. After the resignation of Herb Scannell on January 5, 2006, she became president of the newly formed Kids & Family Group, which included Nickelodeon, Nick@Nite, Nick Jr. Channel, TeenNick, Nicktoons, TV Land, CMT, and CMT Pure Country. On June 4, 2018, she resigned as president of Nickelodeon following 33 years with the network.
In February 2020, Zarghami launched a production company and consultancy firm, MiMo Studios, to develop original film properties of one hour or less in length for young audiences. MiMo is a portmanteau of "mini movie". Cyma has come under scrutiny from fans for controversies regarding harmful working conditions to Nickelodeon kid stars.
Personal life Zarghami lives in New York City with her husband and their three sons. She formerly served on the board of the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Filmography Television Year Title Role 1989–1990 Make the Grade Developer2002–2004Rugrats Special thanks2003–2008ChalkZone2003–2009My Life as a Teenage Robot2004–2007Drake & JoshDanny PhantomNed's Declassified School Survival Guide2004–2006Unfabulous2005–2008Zoey 1012006Just for Kicks2007–2008El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera2008–2011The Mighty B!2008–2009Random! Cartoons2009–2015The Penguins of Madagascar2010–2013Victorious2013–2015The Haunted Hathaways2015–2016100 Things to Do Before High School2015Harvey Beaks
References
External links MIPCOM Junior 2008 Keynote address Cyma Zarghami biography on Nick.com