Screen WM chief to step down

THE chief executive Screen WM has announced she is resigning after three and a half years in the post.

Suzie Norton joined the regional screen agency, one of eight established in England by the UK Film Council in 2002, with a remit to develop the economic, social and cultural wealth of the region.

During her tenure, she played a key role in restructuring the company, securing £14m of funding for the region’s media industries and launching a partnership with Channel 4 to deliver the first regional hub for the broadcaster’s 4iP fund.

Ms Norton was also named Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year in 2010, in recognition of her contribution to raising the profile of the region as a centre for the digital and creative industries.

In December, it was revealed that Birmingham would be the likely home of one of three regional hubs for ‘Creative England’, the body to replace the screen agencies in October.

Ms Norton said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Screen WM and I’m extremely proud of the team for firmly positioning the Midlands as a leading location for the creative industries.

“With a new support structure for the screen industries about to be launched, I feel it is the right time for me to leave and move on the next challenge.”

Regional screen agencies were founded to support the ‘screen-related’ sector of film and television and wider creative industries such as games, digital, new media, design and fashion.

Funding came from the Film Council, lottery funds and Regional Development Agencies.