Irish Film Board Announces New Chief Executive

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board (IFB) has announced the appointment of James Hickey to the role of Chief Executive of the agency.

James Hickey is a Partner of and Head of the Media and Entertainment law group of Ireland's largest law firm Matheson Ormsby Prentice.

James is recognised internationally as a leading expert in the field of film and television production. He is well known for representing many leading Irish film and television production companies as well as actors, writers, directors, composers and for working in the field of media and entertainment law.

He was formerly Chairman of the Projects Arts Centre and the Abbey Theatre and has had a lifetime commitment to the Irish film industry.

Welcoming the announcement, Chairman James Morris said: "On behalf of the Board I am delighted that someone of the calibre and experience of James Hickey has agreed to serve as the Chief Executive of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board for the next five year period. James will be joining and leading a team of staff at the agency of the highest dedication and professionalism. His challenge will be to continue to build on the achievements of a growing group of Irish directors, writers, actors and producers while at the same time ensuring, with the support of the industry and government, that the growth and employment potential of the whole audio visual sector is achieved.

We are working in a very different environment to the one we faced five years ago and we see this appointment as an important step in the ongoing review of the Board's functions in order to ensure that the organisation meets the needs of Irish filmmakers and the industry as a whole for the next five years."

James Hickey said: "I am deeply honoured to have been given the opportunity to take up the post of Chief Executive of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board. All my working life I have been involved in various roles in the world of the arts and film and television production and I look forward very much to working with all the staff of the Board in my new role. I would like to thank my partners in Matheson Ormsby Prentice for their friendship and support over the years. I hope, in taking up this position, that I will be able to make a contribution to the promotion of the culture of film making and the development of the industry of film production in Ireland in my new position."

James Hickey will formally assume the full time position on June 1 2011. He will be working in a consultative basis with the Board prior to taking up the full-time position.

(KMcA)