The UK skills body for the screen industries, ScreenSkills, has appointed Sinéad Rocks as its new Chief Executive Officer. She will take up the role in November.
Rocks brings extensive experience to ScreenSkills, having held senior leadership positions across the UK broadcasting industry, most recently as Managing Director, Nations & Regions at Channel 4, a position she held from 2019 until stepping down earlier this year. During her tenure, she oversaw the rollout of Channel 4’s strategy to increase its Nations & Regions spend on creative content, 4 All the UK and founded 4Skills, an initiative to tackle sector-wide skills gaps and nurture talent for the industry.
Rocks also led on the opening of three Channel 4 regional centres – its National HQ in Leeds and Creative Hubs in Bristol and Glasgow – a move which placed these regional hubs at the centre of the broadcaster’s plan to attract and develop talent from across the UK, both on and off-screen.
Prior to joining Channel 4, Rocks was the BBC’s Director of Education, responsible for a range of content across TV, radio and online. She also played a key role in the BBC’s move to Salford by migrating the BBC’s Learning department to the North West. She has also chaired the Talent and Skills Working Group of the Creative Industries Council.
Lisa Opie, ScreenSkills Executive Chair, commented: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming Sinéad to ScreenSkills. Her career to date speaks of a strategic leader with a real passion for putting national and regional talent on the industry map.”
Sinéad Rocks, incoming ScreenSkills CEO, added: “I am really excited to be joining ScreenSkills. I know first-hand how important the organisation is to the sector and the impact it has had. This is a time of real opportunity, helping employers and the workforce respond to emerging changes and making sure that no matter your background or circumstances, everyone has the support to access, sustain and progress through their careers in our sector.
“This is something I’m passionate about and I can’t wait to get started and work with industry and government partners to ensure we build on the progress to date and meet the needs of this vital industry and its workforce in the future.”
Alex Pumfrey, ScreenSkills, Trustee and Vice Chair and Director of Strategic Partnerships at ITV, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sinéad to ScreenSkills. She brings a wealth of industry experience and a real passion for skills, learning and talent development. The Board looks forward to working with Sinéad as she leads partnerships across industry and government to ensure that the UK maintains its highly skilled screen industry workforce for the future.”
Lisa Opie will remain in post as Executive Chair through November, working closely with Rocks and the Senior Leadership Team to enable ScreenSkills to maintain momentum across its existing priorities and to ensure continuity and a smooth transition overall.
Jon Creamer
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