The Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hEireann has announced that Mr Rod Stoneman is to depart after 10 years as its chief executive.
Mr Stoneman will take up the new position of director of the Huston School of Film and Digital Media at NUI Galway this autumn. The school is to be officially inaugurated in Los Angeles on May 2nd.
After working as a deputy commissioning editor at Channel Four television from its foundation in 1983, Mr Stoneman was appointed CEO of the IFB in late 1993, following its reconstitution by the minister for arts, Mr Michael D. Higgins.
Over the last 10 years the Galway-based board has helped finance more than 80 feature films, as well as documentaries, TV series and shorts. It is also responsible for promoting Ireland as a location for overseas film producers. The board has been celebrating its 10th birthday this week with a season of its films at the Irish Film Centre and Dublin Castle.
"It has been an amazing 10 years for Irish cinema and I am very pleased to have participated in it," Mr Stoneman said.
"As the wealth of films shown to mark the board's 10th anniversary indicates, Irish film-making is in excellent health."
The chairman of the Film Board, Mr Ossie Kilkenny, said: "Rod's immense commitment to Irish film and in particular to the board over the past decade is irreplaceable. His dedication, commitment and passion were the cornerstone of the evolution of the board to its current position at the heart of the industry."
