Former WarnerMedia Executive Thomas J. Ciampa Joins ‘The Winx’ Creator

Rome-based production and distribution executive Thomas J. Ciampa, who last year left WarnerMedia, where he was country director for Italy, Spain and Portugal, joins rainbow groupthe Italian indie standout best known for creating the hit television franchise “Winx Club.”

In his new role as COO of Rainbow Group, Ciampa will play a key role in the strategic development and investment strategies of the company’s portfolio, which is expanding from the production of animated content for children to encompass all audiences and segments of the market.

The animated television series “Winx Club,” which has enchanted girls around the world, was turned into the live-action series “Destiny: The Winx Saga” from Rainbow and Netflix, which commissioned and co-produced the show’s first two seasons but stopped making a third installment last year.

In addition to its children’s content, Rainbow has been producing successful genre titles in recent years through Colorado Films, based in Rome, where Ciampa will be based. These include the revenge thriller “My Name Is Vendetta,” directed by Cosimo Gomez and starring Alessandro Gassman, founder and CEO of Rainbow. Iginio Straffi says it is now among Netflix’s top 10 non-English language films of all time.

The plan now is to take Rainbow Group’s projects for the international market to the next level.

“Thomas is a great professional whom I have known and respected for many years, and I am delighted to welcome him to the Rainbow family,” Straffi said in a statement. “He will be responsible for the development of all areas of the group with a focus on international projects and co-productions.”

“I am delighted to begin this new adventure at Rainbow and work with Iginio Straffi,” added Ciampa. “Iginio, with his vision and determination, has managed to create content capable of reaching and moving the Italian and international public. “I can’t wait to contribute to Rainbow’s global success.”