ScreenSkills has appointed Laura Mansfield as its new Chief Executive to succeed Seetha Kumar.
Currently Managing Director of Outline Productions and a Creative Director of Tin Roof Media Group, Mansfield will join the organisation in mid-January 2024 and will report to the Chair of the ScreenSkills board, Richard Johnston.
Mansfield co-founded Outline Productions which was sold to Tin Roof Media Group in 2017. Previously she has worked for BBC Entertainment, BBC Youth and Entertainment as well as at Watchmaker and Rapido TV.
Currently a non-executive director for Elstree Film Studios, she was member of Pact Council between 2012 and 2016, and chair from 2014 to 2016. She also served as an advisory board member to the Indie Training Fund (2012-2014).
As CEO and working closely with the Board, Mansfield and the leadership team will continue to build on ScreenSkills’ skills strategy to provide training and development programmes for the sector’s workforce, industry leadership and expertise.
“I’m passionate about supporting the development of people in our industry - whether that’s helping new starters or those who are mid-career and upskilling to move genre or role,” said Mansfield.
Lisa Opie, Deputy Chair of ScreenSkills, said: “She has demonstrable experience of strategic leadership, building collaborative and critical partnerships, as well as an in-depth understanding of, and a clear commitment to, developing and supporting training and career pathways.”
Richard Johnston, Chair, ScreenSkills, concluded: “On behalf of ScreenSkills, I would like to thank Seetha Kumar for her outstanding leadership and her tireless commitment to, and advocacy of training, career development and embedding genuine and thoughtful diversity and inclusion across the screen industries.”
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