Patrick McKenna, founder and Chief Executive of Ingenious, the UK’s leading investor in the creative industries, has been appointed Chairman of the National Film & Television School (NFTS) Board of Governors.
His company has raised and invested over £8 billion into the UK’s creative industries since 1998 including finance for the highest grossing film of all time, James Cameron’s Avatar , the award-winning Life of Pi, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and blockbusters X-Men First Class, The Wolverine, A Good Day to Die Hard, Rise of the Planet of the Apes as well as Danny Boyle’s indie hits Trance and 127 Hours starring James Franco.
Ingenious also invests in British-made TV production and formats with international appeal, such as drama series Doc Martin, Foyle’s War and most recently crime thriller series The Fall, the most popular new BBC2 drama for many years.
Patrick is chairman of the Young Vic Theatre Company and St John’s, Smith Square, the classical music venue, as well as a number of prominent media companies including Hat Trick Productions, makers of hit comedy series such as Father Ted, Outnumbered and the Armstrong and Miller show.
Patrick McKenna and Ingenious have been involved with the NFTS for many years as a guest speaker, funder and supporter of our work, co-sponsor of this year’s Gala and contributor to our innovative Entrepreneurial Producing for the Creative Industries course (EPCRI).
Speaking on his appointment as Chair, Patrick McKenna said: “The NFTS has built a worldwide reputation for delivering excellent film and TV education and is fortunate in being able to attract some of the world’s best creative talent onto its teaching programmes. The NFTS has both the expertise and the track record to ensure that Britain remains one of the best places to conceive and produce media content.”
Nik Powell, Director of the NFTS, commented: “It’s brilliant to have such a major figure in our business as Patrick as our new Chairman. I very much look forward to working with him to complete phase two of the NFTS Digital Village project and ensuring the NFTS remains one of the top film schools in the world.”
Ed Vaizey MP, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, congratulated Patrick on his appointment and added: "The NFTS is one of the best film schools in the world. Patrick McKenna and Ingenious have a proud history of investing in the UK's Creative Industries, and have contributed to many of our global success stories, including Avatar and Life of Pi. I look forward to Patrick taking the NFTS to new levels of success in his new role as chairman."
Patrick succeeds Simon Shaps who stepped down at the end of his term and recently became Managing Director, International Content and production, at CORE Media Group.
Pictured is Patrick McKenna during a recent Harley Davidson road trip across California
