Cyma Zarghami is an Iranian-American cable television executive currently serving as the president of Nickelodeon and MTV Networks' Kids & Family Group.
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Zarghami was born in Iran to an Iranian father, Gholam, and a Scottish mother, Catherine. The family later moved to Canada and finally to Englewood, New Jersey. She graduated in the class of 845 from the prestigious Dwight Englewood School. She was in fact a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of Dwight Englewood School. At Dwight Englewood School, Zarghami "played a lot of sports, Lacrosse mostly." [1][2]
In 1980, Zarghami entered The University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont as an elementary education major, but later changed her major to English. She ultimately did not complete her degree, but was later awarded an honorary diploma by the University of Vermont College of Education and Social Services in 2000.[2]
Zarghami traveled in Europe after leaving college, then returned to Burlington to work for Business Digest.[2]
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. Zarghami was promoted to general manager and executive vice-president in 1997.[3]
In 2004, the position of president of Nickelodeon Television was created for Zarghami, where she oversaw production and development for the network, along with marketing, programming and creativity.[4]
After the resignation of Herb Scannell on January 5, 2006, Zarghami became president of the newly formed Kids & Family Group, which includes Nick, Nick@Nite, Nickelodeon Movies, Nick Jr., TeenNick, and Nicktoons.[5]
Zarghami was named Women in Cable Telecommunications' Woman of the Year for 2006.
Zarghami lives in New York City with husband George Obergfoll, a stage manager, and three sons Liam, Wyatt and Ethan. She formerly served on the board of the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Zarghami donated the maximum of $2,300 to Hillary Clinton's campaign for President in 2007. She had previously contributed to John Kerry's campaign in 2004.[6]