Zayn Malik -- Simon Cowell Made it Happen For Me (VIDEO)

Zayn Malik knows who's buttering his bread.

We got Zayn leaving Warwick in Hollywood Wednesday night, when our photog invited the former One Direction singer to give a shout-out to Simon Cowell, and he happily obliged.

Simon engineered and negotiated Zayn's new solo contract with RCA, and Malik stands to make a fortune as a result.

All hail to King Simon!