26/08/2010

The Board of Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) has appointed Barbara Galavan as its new Chief Executive.

Galavan has a wealth of experience in the Irish entertainment business. She has variously served as a a director of U2’s management company, Principle Management and a director of McGuinness/Whelan Music Publishing, the company controlling the music rights to Riverdance. She also served on the Irish Government Task Force for the music industry and was vice chairman of the Irish Music Rights Organisation. She was awarded an ESB media award for best sports broadcast for her independent production of a 90-minute documentary on Irish hurling legend DJ Carey for the RTE true lives series and was the industry expert judge on the RTE series You’re a Star in 2005.

Galavan takes over from Sean Stokes, who is leaving to head up Sports and Media Rights International Ltd, a company providing advice and solutions for sports and media rights consumers.

SPI Chairman Gaby Smyth said, “We are delighted to welcome Barbara as the new CEO of Screen Producers Ireland. We feel she is well qualified to deal with all of the challenges facing producers at this difficult time in our economic history. The board and I also wish to acknowledge the excellent job done by Sean Stokes during his three-year tenure as Chief Executive and wish him every success in his new position.”

Galavan said, “I am very pleased to be taking over as CEO of Screen Producers Ireland. There are significant challenges facing independent producers of film, television and animation in Ireland and having a representative organisation that provides strong leadership, at this particularly difficult time, is critical.”