ZMC is a leading private equity firm that seeks to identify and invest in companies in the media & communications sector which we believe can benefit from our industry expertise, management experience and investment acumen. ZMC’s sector focus, collaborative approach and extensive network of relationships aim to provide meaningful opportunities for value creation to its portfolio companies.

Venture Capital

Brian Motechin joined ZMC in 2008. Mr. Motechin is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer.

Prior to joining ZMC, Mr. Motechin worked for TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P., and Baker Capital Corp. Previously, Mr. Motechin was a member of Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Leverage Buyout Group focusing on auditing of private equity firms.

Mr. Motechin received his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Information Systems from Queens College and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a board member of the New York Chapter of the Private Equity CFO Association.

Brian D. Motechin

Tim Faranda joined ZMC in 2022 as Assistant Controller.
 
Prior to joining ZMC, Mr. Faranda worked for New Mountain Capital as an Accounting Manager within the private equity business.  Previously, Mr. Faranda worked at KPMG, LLP as an Audit Senior Associate in the Investment Management group within the Financial Services practice.
 
Mr. Faranda received his B.S. in Accounting from Loyola University Maryland and is a New York State CPA.

Tim Faranda

Allen Mack is an investment associate at ZMC. Allen was previously an investment banking analyst at BMO Capital Markets from June 2021 to July 2022. Prior to that, they were a mergers and acquisitions associate at [Shearman & Sterling LLP](/org/shearman-sterling-llp) from January 2017 to December 2019. Allen also worked as a summer associate at [Shearman & Sterling LLP](/org/shearman-sterling-llp) from May 2016 to July 2016. In addition, Mack interned at [New York Angels](/org/new-york-angels) from January 2016 to May 2016.

[

Allen Mack attended Fordham University School of Law and [Wesleyan University](/org/wesleyan-university).

They work with and Nick Blake - Private Equity Associate. Allen Mack reports to Jordan Turkewitz, Co-Chief Investment Officer & Managing Partner.

Allen Mack

Nick Blake is a Private Equity Associate at ZMC. Prior to joining ZMC, they worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at BNP Paribas CIB from February 2020 to July 2021. Nick also worked as an Analyst in the Financial Management Analyst Program at [Bank of America](/org/bank-of-america) from June 2019 to February 2020.

Nick Blake completed their Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in finance and investments from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Nick also participated in a summer study abroad program in international business at the [University of Valencia](/org/university-of-valencia). In addition, they hold certifications from [FINRA](/org/financial-industry-regulatory-authority-inc) in the Series 63 and 79 licenses.

Their manager is Jordan Turkewitz, Co-Chief Investment Officer & Managing Partner. Nick Blake works with and Allen Mack - Investment Associate.

Nick Blake

Mike Andrews

Seymour Sammell joined ZMC in 2004. Mr. Sammell is responsible for originating, structuring and monitoring investments. Mr. Sammell currently represents ZMC on the boards of [ITRenew](/org/itrenew) and Education Networks of America, Inc. He was previously on the board of Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, L.L.C.

Before joining ZMC, Mr. Sammell was an investment banker in the U.S. Mergers and Acquisitions Group of [CIBC](/org/cibc) World Markets. At [CIBC](/org/cibc), Mr. Sammell worked on numerous public and private transactions in various industries.

Prior to joining [CIBC](/org/cibc) World Markets, Mr. Sammell worked as an analyst at [Apax Partners](/org/apax-partners), a global private equity firm. At Apax, he worked closely with the Chairman, the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance in a variety of roles including investment analysis, due diligence, budget analysis, portfolio analysis and fund raising.

Mr. Sammell earned a BA in Business Management and Finance with honors from Brooklyn College.

Seymour Sammell

Akshay Patel joined ZMC in 2019. Mr. Patel helps manage select portfolio companies and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing potential investment opportunities.

Before joining ZMC, Mr. Patel was an Investment Professional at [The Gores Group](/org/the-gores-group), where he focused on private equity investments across multiple industries. Prior to [The Gores Group](/org/the-gores-group), Mr. Patel was an Investment Banking Analyst at [Perella Weinberg Partners](/org/perella-weinberg-partners).

Mr. Patel graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Economics.

Akshay Patel

Sheila Dharmarajan joined ZMC in 2014. Ms. Dharmarajan leads all of the investor relations, fundraising and deal sourcing activities at the firm.

Prior to joining ZMC, Ms. Dharmarajan was an on-air television reporter for [CNBC](/org/cnbc) and Bloomberg Television, where she regularly reported on a wide range of business news and breaking stories. She has also served as the host of “The Future Is Now”, a [Yahoo!](/org/yahoo) web series focused on innovation and cutting edge technologies.

Before her television career, Ms. Dharmarajan was an investment professional at [Permira](/org/permira) and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, where she focused on analyzing and executing private equity investments across a range of industries including healthcare, consumer / retail and information services. Ms. Dharmarajan began her career as an investment banking analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and was an associate director in the mergers & acquisitions group at IAC/InterActiveCorp.

Ms. Dharmarajan holds BS in Finance & Management from the Wharton School at the University Of Pennsylvania. Ms. Dharmarajan also earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Sheila Dharmarajan

Christina Gao joined ZMC in 2020. Ms. Gao helps manage select portfolio companies and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing potential investment opportunities.

Before joining ZMC, Ms. Gao was Chief of Staff at Hawthorne Lab, Inc., where she focused on strategic finance initiatives. Prior to Hawthorne, Ms. Gao was an Investment Banking Analyst in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group at [Credit Suisse](/org/credit-suisse).

Ms. Gao graduated from [Harvard University](/org/harvard) with a B.A. in Economics.

Christina Gao

Jon Salazar joined ZMC in 2022 as a Fund Accountant.
 
Prior to joining ZMC, Mr. Salazar worked for SS&C Technologies, Inc. and Carta, Inc. as a Senior Fund Accountant in fund administration for numerous venture capital and private equity funds.  Before working in fund administration, Mr. Salazar started in public accounting at a boutique audit and tax firm that predominately serviced high net worth individuals and local businesses in the Princeton area, later acquired by EisnerAmper.
 
Mr. Salazar graduated from the [University of Kansas](/org/university-of-kansas) with a B.S. in Finance and Accounting.

Jonathan Salazar

Ari Buchler joined ZMC in 2019. Mr. Buchler is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and advising on potential investment opportunities, primarily in the data security and IT space.

Mr. Buchler currently represents ZMC on the board of Simeio, where he supports the company in areas of corporate strategy, business development, and operational improvements. He has over 20 years of leadership, strategy, business development, legal, HR, and corporate finance experience. Mr. Buchler has served in variety of senior executive roles at Sophos Group plc, Intralinks, and Phase Forward, in addition to board and advisory roles in emerging tech companies. He has played instrumental roles in scaling, transforming and guiding PE-sponsored, VC-backed and public companies to successful outcomes, including Nasdaq and London Stock Exchange IPOs, as well as M&A exits. During his career, Mr. Buchler has executed more than 40 M&A transactions around the globe and has evaluated hundreds of target opportunities.

Mr. Buchler attended Columbia Law School and served in the Israel Defense Forces.

Ari Buchler

Ripan Kadakia joined ZMC in 2014. Mr. Kadakia is responsible for originating, executing and managing investments. Mr. Kadakia currently represents ZMC on the boards of Simeio, CommentSold, AdThrive, Dynasty Sports & Entertainment, Cannella Response Television.

Before joining ZMC, Mr. Kadakia was an investment professional in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications group at Warburg Pincus, where he focused on investments in the software, internet, information, business services and education industries. In his time at Warburg Pincus, Mr. Kadakia executed control buyouts and growth investments and also served as a board member or strategic advisor to several portfolio companies.

Prior to Warburg Pincus, Mr. Kadakia was an investment professional at Audax Group Private Equity, where he focused on executing investments and operating middle-market companies in a variety of industries. Mr. Kadakia completed ten transactions spanning the manufacturing, distribution, software, healthcare services and financial services industry while at Audax.

Mr. Kadakia began his career as a strategy consultant at Oliver Wyman, executing and managing projects in the United States, Africa and the Middle East for a broad range of financial institutions.

Mr. Kadakia graduated summa cum laude from the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology from the University of Pennsylvania, earning a BS in Finance and Managing E-commerce from the Wharton School and a BSE in Computer Science and Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Mr. Kadakia also earned his MBA from the Wharton School, where he graduated as a Palmer Scholar.

Ripan Kadakia

Scott Lucas joined ZMC in 2016. Mr. Lucas helps manage select portfolio companies and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing potential investment opportunities.

Previously, Mr. Lucas worked at Sagent Advisors, a New York-based investment banking firm, where he focused on mergers & acquisitions and capital raising engagements in the media and information services sector.

Mr. Lucas graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce with a B.S. in Commerce with Distinction, concentrating in Finance and Accounting.

Scott Lucas

Jason Sporer joined ZMC in 2011. Mr. Sporer is responsible for originating, executing and managing investments. Mr. Sporer currently represents ZMC on the boards of [ITRenew](/org/itrenew) and Education Networks of America, Inc. He also assists in managing the firm’s investment in 9 Story Media Group.

Previously, Mr. Sporer worked at [Evercore](/org/evercore) in the Restructuring and Capital Markets Group specializing in out-of-court restructurings, Chapter 11 bankruptcies, debt exchanges, debt financings and distressed M&A.

Mr. Sporer graduated from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Jason Sporer

Larry Irving joined ZMC as an operating partner in 2015 and was named Chief Public Policy and ESG Advisor in 2020.  Mr. Irving consults and advises ZMC and ZMC portfolio company executives on policies and procedures that reflect ZMC's commitment to implementing standards in support of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues that are critical to success including Diversity and Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, and Corporative Governance.

Prior to founding the Irving Group in 1999, Mr. Irving served for almost seven years as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), where he was a principal advisor to the President, Vice President and Secretary of Commerce on domestic and international telecommunications and information technology issues.  Mr. Irving also served on the Clinton-Gore and Obama Biden Transition teams as a senior member of their technology policy groups.

Mr. Irving was one of the principal architects and advocates of the Clinton Administration's telecommunications and Internet policies, and was a point person in the Clinton Administration's successful efforts to reform the United States telecommunications law, resulting in passage of the most sweeping change in America’s telecommunications laws in 60 years. In large part due to his work to promote policies and develop programs to ensure access to advanced telecommunications and information technologies, Mr. Irving was named one of the fifty most influential persons in the "Year of the Internet" by Newsweek Magazine.  In 2019 Mr. Irving was elected to the Internet Hall of Fame for his pioneering efforts identifying the "digital divide" and advocating for domestic and international policies to increase more equitable access to the Internet and related technologies.

Mr. Irving currently serves as a member of the Boards of Directors of Education Networks of America (a ZMC portfolio company), The Texas Tribune and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.  He also serves as a member of [Northwestern University](/org/northwestern-university)'s Board of Trustees, as president of Northwestern's Alumni Association, on the Board of Visitors for the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences of [Northwestern University](/org/northwestern-university) and the Board of Visitors for Stanford Law School.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from [Northwestern University](/org/northwestern-university) and is a recipient of the University’s Alumni Merit Award for distinguished professional achievement and is a Salute to Excellence Honoree of the [Northwestern University](/org/northwestern-university) Black Alumni Association. He is also a graduate of Stanford University School of Law, where he was elected President of his graduating class and is a Stanford Associate.

Larry Irving

Jordan Turkewitz joined ZMC in 2002.  Mr. Turkewitz is jointly responsible for overseeing the Firm’s private equity investment activities.  Mr. Turkewitz currently represents ZMC on the boards of 9 Story Media Group, Inc. and Dynasty Sports & Entertainment, Inc.  He was previously the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, L.L.C. and represented ZMC on the board of Alloy, Inc.

Prior to joining ZMC, Mr. Turkewitz served as Senior Director of Acquisitions and Investments at JupiterMedia Corporation, ultimately leading the corporate development team and the investments group that managed three venture capital funds focused on investments in digital publishing, software and business services companies.

Before joining JupiterMedia, Mr. Turkewitz was an Associate with Merrill Lynch & Co. in their Media Investment Banking Group and Goldman Sachs’ Mergers and Acquisitions Group. Prior to his positions in investment banking, Mr. Turkewitz Co-Founded and served as Chief Operating Officer of the Student Advantage Program, a leading integrated media and commerce company focused on the higher education market.

Mr. Turkewitz earned a BA degree in U.S. Government from [Cornell University](/org/cornell-university) and received a MBA from Columbia Business School.

Jordan Turkewitz

Prior to joining ZMC, Ms. Marras worked for SS&C Private Equity Services, Inc. and Citi Private Equity Services, Inc. as a Vice President, where she was responsible for managing fund administration and financial reporting for several large institutional and non-institutional private equity clients.

Ms. Marras received her BS in Finance from Marymount Manhattan College and an MBA with a concentration in Accounting from Baruch's Zicklin School of Business.

Anastasia Marras

Ben Carus joined ZMC in 2016. Mr. Carus helps manage select portfolio companies and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing potential investment opportunities.

Previously, Mr. Carus worked in the investment bank at J.P. Morgan where he focused on advising clients on mergers & acquisitions, capital raising and other corporate activities.

Mr. Carus holds a BA from [Wesleyan University](/org/wesleyan-university) and studied at The London School of Economics.

Ben Carus

Derek DeBenedetto joined ZMC in 2018. Mr. DeBenedetto directs the deal sourcing and business development activities at the firm.

Previously, Mr. DeBenedetto was a Business Development Manager at [PitchBook](/org/pitchbook). Prior to [PitchBook](/org/pitchbook), Mr. DeBenedetto was an Investment Banking Analyst in the Financial Sponsors Coverage group at Cowen & Company.

Mr. DeBenedetto graduated from Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business with a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting and a B.S. in Finance.

Derek DeBenedetto

Strauss Zelnick founded ZMC in 2001.  Mr. Zelnick has a long history of leading media and communications enterprises and is deeply involved in originating investments, advising executives and guiding the strategic and operational initiatives across all portfolio company investments.  Mr. Zelnick currently represents ZMC as a director of Education Networks of America, Inc.  He serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Previously, Mr. Zelnick was on the boards of Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, L.L.C., Alloy, Inc. and Naylor L.L.C.  He also served as Chairman and CEO of Columbia Music Entertainment, Chairman of ITN Networks, Chairman of Direct Holdings Worldwide and OTX.

Prior to forming ZMC, Mr. Zelnick was President and Chief Executive Officer of BMG Entertainment, at that time one of the world’s largest music and entertainment companies with more than 200 record labels and operations in 54 countries.

Before joining BMG Entertainment, Mr. Zelnick was President and Chief Executive Officer of [Crystal Dynamics](/org/crystal-dynamics), a producer and distributor of interactive entertainment software. Prior to that, he spent four years as President and Chief Operating Officer of 20th Century Fox, where he managed all aspects of Fox Inc.’s worldwide motion picture production and distribution business.

Previously, Mr. Zelnick spent three years at Vestron Inc., two as the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Zelnick also served as Vice President of International Television Sales at Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Zelnick holds a BA from [Wesleyan University](/org/wesleyan-university), as well as an MBA from [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school) and a JD from Harvard Law School.

Strauss Zelnick

Karl Slatoff joined ZMC in 2001. Mr. Slatoff is responsible for originating, structuring and monitoring investments. Mr. Slatoff is the President of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cannella Response Television.

Before joining ZMC, Mr. Slatoff served as Vice President of New Media for BMG Entertainment, at that time one of the world’s largest music companies. In this position, he was responsible for guiding BMG’s online digital strategies, including the development of commercial digital distribution initiatives and new business models for the sale and syndication of online content. He was also responsible for maintaining relationships and leading negotiations with major software developers, consumer electronics manufactures and online retailers / portals, as well as representing BMG’s interests in various industry consortia relating to the development of digital businesses.

​Mr. Slatoff also held roles in corporate development and strategic planning at the Walt Disney Company, and mergers and acquisitions at Lehman Brothers.

Mr. Slatoff earned a BA in Economics and English from [Kenyon College](/org/kenyon-college) and received a MBA from [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school).

Karl Slatoff

Andrew Vogel joined ZMC in 2003. Mr. Vogel is jointly responsible for overseeing the Firm’s private equity investment activities. Mr. Vogel currently represents ZMC as Chairman of the Board of Directors of [Simeio](/org/simeio), [CommentSold](/org/commentsold), Education Networks of America, Inc. and AdThrive, LLC and serves on the boards of 9 Story Media Group Inc. and ITRenew, Inc.

Prior to joining ZMC, Mr. Vogel worked at Ripplewood Holdings, a private equity firm where he focused on investments in the media, consumer and industrial sectors. Mr. Vogel also worked at McCown De Leeuw and Co., a private equity firm where he was responsible for investments in the consumer, building materials and health and leisure industries, including the firm’s investment in [24 Hour Fitness](/org/24-hour-fitness). Previously, Mr. Vogel was an investment banker in Lehman Brothers’ Mergers and Acquisitions Group and interned as a management consultant for McKinsey and Company.

Mr. Vogel earned a BA in Mathematics and Economics from [Wesleyan University](/org/wesleyan-university). He also received an MBA from [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school) where he graduated as a Baker Scholar.

Andrew Vogel

Bob Collie joined ZMC in 2017. Mr. Collie is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and advising on potential investment opportunities, as well as ongoing engagement and leadership with management teams of selected portfolio companies related to product strategy, operations optimization and technology.

Mr. Collie currently represents ZMC on the board of [ITRenew](/org/itrenew), and works with the management teams at AdThrive, Dynasty Sports & Entertainment, and Education Networks of America, Inc. He has over 20 years of leadership, strategy and technology implementation experience. Mr. Collie has served in variety of roles including Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategy with Education Networks of America, PSINet and Telalink Corporation. His successes include growing companies, taking them from start-ups to larger, mature businesses, as well as leading established entities through transformational change to meet market demands

Mr. Collie attended [Vanderbilt University](/org/vanderbilt-university) and pursued a degree in Economics.

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