ZMC Welcomes Sally Knutson as Chief Financial Advisor & Operating Partner

Former Cast & Crew CFO Returns to ZMC, Extending the Firm’s Operating Partner Model into Finance

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZMC (www.zmclp.com), a leading private equity firm investing in companies across the media, communications, and entertainment sectors, today announced the appointment of Sally Knutson as Chief Financial Advisor & Operating Partner. In this role, Ms. Knutson will partner with portfolio company CFOs and senior leadership teams to support strategic planning, financial performance, and operational execution across the ZMC portfolio.

Ms. Knutson’s appointment extends a model ZMC has applied successfully across other functional areas, including the firm’s existing Chief Operating Partners in talent and technology, who work alongside portfolio company management teams to accelerate value creation. Bringing nearly four decades of experience partnering with boards, investors, and management teams, Ms. Knutson is a natural fit for ZMC’s hands-on, partnership-driven approach.

Ms. Knutson is also a familiar face at ZMC. She previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Cast & Crew, one of ZMC’s most successful portfolio investments, where she partnered closely with the ZMC team on several growth, transformation, and value creation initiatives.

“Sally is among the most accomplished operating CFOs we’ve ever worked with, and we know first-hand the kind of impact she can have on a business,” said Jordan Turkewitz, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at ZMC. “From her 19 years at Cast & Crew through her work with multiple other private equity firms, she has consistently helped management teams scale operations, sharpen strategy, and deliver outcomes for investors. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the ZMC family.”

“Our Chief Operating Partner model has been one of the most powerful tools in our value creation playbook, and Sally extends that model into the finance function in a way that few people in the market could,” said Andrew Vogel, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at ZMC. “She brings a rare combination of strategic vision, operational rigor, and collaborative leadership — and our portfolio company CFOs will benefit enormously from having her as a partner and resource.”

At Cast & Crew, Ms. Knutson served as CFO for 19 years, leading the company’s finance, administration and risk management teams, helping to guide the company’s growth. Across her career, she has led multiple successful private equity exits, driven substantial EBITDA growth through organic expansion, M&A, and pricing strategy, designed and executed enterprise-wide transformations, directed multiple acquisitions, and implemented wide-ranging ERP systems unifying core business processes and providing real-time data across business segments. She has also built finance and operating organizations, held full P&L ownership, and developed leaders throughout her career — many of whom have gone on to become CFOs themselves.

“ZMC’s hands-on, collaborative approach is the way I’ve operated my entire career, and it’s the approach I came to know and trust during my years at Cast & Crew,” said Sally Knutson. “After working with several outstanding firms over the past four decades, joining ZMC felt like coming home. I’m excited to partner with the firm’s portfolio company CFOs and management teams on the strategic and financial priorities that drive durable value.”

Prior to Cast & Crew, Ms. Knutson held senior finance positions at Disney Home Entertainment, Dole Food Company, Discus Dental, Move, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. She graduated with honors from UCLA with a degree in Economics.

About ZMC

ZMC is a leading private equity firm comprised of experienced investors and executives who invest in and manage a diverse group of media and communications enterprises. Founded in 2001, ZMC’s investment philosophy centers on operational value creation driven by targeted investment themes, deep sector expertise, and strong partnerships with industry and operating executives. ZMC approaches its investments in collaboration with management teams and has a successful track record of actively adding value to portfolio companies. ZMC is currently investing out of ZMC IV, L.P. See www.zmclp.com to learn more.