Screen Producers Ireland announce Susan Kirby as incoming CEO
The Board of Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Kirby as the new CEO for the organisation today (18th November). Taking up her role on the 4thof January 2021, she will be responsible for the development and implementation of an ambitious SPI Strategy for 2021 – 2024.
Susan Kirby has over 20 years of experience in the creative industries at senior management level, most recently as CEO of the national St. Patrick’s Festival and previously as Director of Communications & Marketing at The Gaiety Theatre. As CEO of the festival, she worked closely with the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and government agencies to create an award-winning, world-class festival which is recognised as strategically important to the national agenda. Susan has built a high-level network focused on the promotion of Ireland and its creative industries nationally and worldwide. Susan is a graduate of Trinity College and DIT with a BSc in Marketing & International Business.
SPI Chairman, John Gormley, commented,
“The board of Screen Producers Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Susan Kirby as the new CEO. Susan has a proven track record as chief executive of the St. Patrick’s Festival. I have no doubt that she will bring that same dynamism and innovation to her new role as CEO of Screen Producers Ireland. Our organisation has gone from strength to strength in the last four years, and is now seen not just as a vital resource for producers but as a key policy advocate in Ireland’s expanding screen industries.
“Susan’s advocacy network in the creative industries and background in strategic marketing will undoubtedly help to enhance the profile and reputation of Screen Producers Ireland and we look forward to an exciting new chapter in the development of SPI.”
Incoming CEO, Susan Kirby, added, “I am delighted to join Screen Producers Ireland as CEO. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 in the AV sector, this is an unprecedented time in the development of cultural and foreign policy for Ireland, where to achieve the ambitions of creative and global Ireland, a world-class independent audio-visual sector is clearly articulated as central to these policies. It is exciting to work to support the independent production sector in Ireland to continue to deliver significant social, cultural and economic impact. SPI members are creative entrepreneurs who produce globally celebrated film, animation and TV, creating high-value regionally spread employment, fostering Ireland’s media education eco-system along with preserving Ireland’s artistic heritage and I look forward to working with the SPI board, members and team to ensure the optimum environment for sectoral sustainability and growth”.