Company Announces New Leader: Servo Names Chief Executive Officer
Sam Pantos has been named the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SERVO, an Australian film and TV production services company. The announcement was made in August 2025, with Pantos taking on the role to lead SERVO through its next phase of growth 14.
Pantos began his career at Fox Studios Australia (now Disney Studios Australia) 25 years ago. He has since held senior executive roles at Sony Pictures Television's Playmaker Media and Endemol Australia before most recently serving as Director of Operations for NEOM Media Industries in Saudi Arabia. With extensive production finance and operations experience from major film and television institutions, Pantos is well-equipped to lead SERVO 6.
SERVO is a leading dedicated end-to-end film production services company based in Australia. It began operations in January 2023 and has rapidly become an essential production services partner to several global film and television studios. The company has worked with major international studios including Amazon MGM Studios, Apple Original Films, Miramax, and Paramount Pictures 8.
One of SERVO's notable projects includes providing production services for Liam Neeson's action thriller Ice Road: Vengeance and Shane Black's big-budget crime film Play Dirty for Amazon MGM Studios. The company's services include incentive financing for independent productions and a Net Cost model that has significantly increased the volume of international PDV projects coming into Australia 9.
The founders and board members of SERVO include Dean Hood, Jon Kuyper, Genevieve Hofmeyr, Marvin Saven, and Jamie Hilton. Dean Hood, another co-founder of SERVO, expressed excitement about welcoming Sam Pantos as the CEO to support the company's growth. Jon Kuyper, a co-founder, stated that Australia is becoming one of the world's most dynamic production hubs 3.
Pantos joins a high-functioning executive team that includes Mel Chryssochoides, William Creamer, Julie Stewart, and Michael Pontin. He expressed his honour to lead the SERVO team and continue the company's journey in Australia 10.
SERVO operates offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast, and will open a new office in Western Australia when Perth Studios begins operations. The company's mission is to enable global studios to unlock Australia's unmatched value by removing complexity and delivering a vast range of services 11.
In 2023, SERVO provided production services for Ron Howard's Eden, generating approximately AUD26.5 million to the Queensland economy and supporting over 300 local jobs 12. The company's role in the Australian film and TV industry continues to grow, with Pantos at the helm.
Sam Pantos, with his extensive experience in major film and television institutions such as Fox Studios Australia, Sony Pictures Television's Playmaker Media, Endemol Australia, and NEOM Media Industries, will leverage his knowledge of production finance and operations to guide SERVO in the Australian entertainment industry. Under Pantos' leadership, SERVO aims to further expand its services and grow its presence, becoming a key player not only in the film and television sector but also in the larger arena of business and finance.
