Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland have announced the appointment of Libbie McQuillan to the position of Director of Industry and Corporate Affairs. Libbie joins with two decades of expertise in the design and delivery of production and studio strategy.
McQuillan is currently Controller of Group Content Strategy at the BBC. In this role, she has provided strategic leadership for BBC Content, covering audience-facing strategy across network TV, iPlayer, Sport, Children’s & Education and Audio and Sounds. McQuillan also previously served as the BBC’s Controller of Group Intellectual Property Strategy, responsible for the BBC’s overall commercial strategy and Controller of Production and Supply Strategy.
McQuillan has been involved in the design and delivery of some of the biggest sectoral changes the BBC has made over the last decade, including the establishment of BBC Studios, taking BBC production into a commercial setting; the opening up of content supply spend to creative competition in the independent production market; and the creation of the blueprint for the BBC’s Across the UK Strategy, which was focused on ensuring increased national and regional spread of production activity and spend across the UK.
Prior to joining the BBC, McQuillan spent many years working for leading creative screen sector consultancy Olsberg/SPI, working with production companies, national governments, and film bodies across a number of countries. McQuillan has worked across the film value chain globally, working on optimising national tax incentives, training and diversity, physical studio feasibility studies, competitive assessments on locations to attract productions, and understanding the challenges and opportunities of the VFX sector for various public and private clients around the world.
“Libbie’s breadth of international film and television industry experience, along with her expertise in developing and implementing screen industry policy will greatly benefit the sustainable growth of the Irish creative screen sector,” said Desiree Finnegan, Chief Executive of Screen Ireland. “Libbie brings a depth of knowledge and experience from both the public and private sector at an important time, as we focus on key opportunities and address challenges to build on the continued success of Ireland’s creative screen industries. We are delighted to welcome her to Screen Ireland’s leadership team.”
Commenting on her new appointment, Libbie McQuillan said:
“I am thrilled to be joining Screen Ireland at this exciting time of creative and critical success for Irish storytelling and am looking forward to collaborating with such a talented team to ensure continued success, as well as working with industry and stakeholders alike to help drive the creative and business conditions for success to help take Ireland’s screen sector forward to its next stages of growth”.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, McQuillan will have responsibility for the management of production & development, distribution, marketing, inward production and skills departments, working alongside the Financial Controller who has responsibility for business affairs, finance and governance. McQuillan will collaborate with industry stakeholders in the development of strategic responses to sectoral challenges and opportunities, including the formulation of industry policy.
McQuillan will also support the implementation of the agency’s three-year strategy, Building for a Creative Future 2024, and the Sustainability Plan, along with skills development objectives for the sector. McQuillan will also lead the development of Ireland’s international co-production treaties. Alongside the Chief Executive and leadership team, she will represent Screen Ireland internationally at key industry events and government forums.
Libbie McQuillan will take up the new role in September 2023.
