Ken Crouch will depart his position as CEO of Screenworks in February next year.
He has not yet revealed his next move – simply saying it will be a “national senior screen industry role” – and nor has the replacement Screenworks CEO been announced.
Crouch joined the member-based non-profit organisation in 2014, which now boasts it is the “country’s premier regional screen development organisation” with major projects in regional and remote NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
He said he is incredibly proud of what the group has achieved under his leadership over the past eight years.
During that time, I have overseen 280+ training and industry development initiatives, attended by and supported more than 14,000 regional Australians. I’m particularly proud of the Regional Crew Development Program that we created with Netflix and the NSW Government; our three annual Career Pathways Programs that continue to support regional producers, directors and screenwriters in NSW; and the Regional Screen In LA program in partnership with Hollywood-based organisation, Australians In Film,” he said.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with all staff and members of the Board during that time, and I thank them for their support and hard work in growing Screenworks into what it is today. With funding secured for the next three years, the future for Screenworks is looking very bright. It is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO who can keep driving the organisation forward and delivering initiatives that effect change in the lives and careers of regional people.”
Dustin Clare, chair of Screenworks, added: “On behalf of the Board, I thank outgoing CEO Ken Crouch for his commitment and dedication to Screenworks and for his leadership in building the organisation to where it is today. We wish him well in his new role.
“Providing the best opportunities for regionally based Australians to excel in the screen industry will continue to be our focus as we transition to a new CEO over the coming months.”