Nigel Warner from the Motion Picture Association Steps In as New CEO of Pact
Nigel Warner has been appointed as the new CEO of Pact, the UK trade body for producers, succeeding John McVay, who will step down after 25 years in the role. Warner currently serves as the UK policy consultant for the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and brings a wealth of experience to the position, beginning on March 2.
“I’m very pleased to be passing the baton to Nigel, whom I have known and worked with for many years,” said McVay. “I look forward to working with him during the handover period next year, and until then, I will continue to work for Pact members as I have done for over two decades.”
Warner, who has held previous positions at ITV and the UK’s Culture, Media, and Sport department, emphasized his commitment to maintaining the UK indie sector’s reputation as “the envy of the world.” He expressed his determination to preserve its status amid significant changes in the global landscape.
Warner’s experience with the MPA will be crucial as Hollywood increasingly influences international markets. This shift is exemplified by the current competition between Netflix and Paramount in their bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which is expected to reshape the industry dynamics.
In his role at the MPA, Warner has focused on policy issues affecting the creative industries for over a decade. He previously served as Director of Public Affairs at ITV from 2008 to 2011 and co-founded Creative Access, an industry-funded social enterprise. Additionally, he was a special advisor to former culture secretary Tessa Jowell, who was instrumental in establishing the UK terms of trade that enabled production companies to retain intellectual property rights—an initiative significantly impacted by McVay during his tenure.
“I am thrilled that we have a successor that can take forward the many achievements of Pact over the past 25 years,” McVay noted.
Upon taking office, Warner will face a multitude of pressing issues, including enhancing tax credits, navigating artificial intelligence regulations, collaborating with a rapidly evolving broadcasting sector, and managing relations with streaming services. He will also need to work with the new BBC Director General and negotiate new contracts with actors’ union Equity to address the ongoing closure of independent companies.
Building relations with Channel 4 will be vital for Warner as he prepares to engage with Priya Dogra, the network’s new CEO, who will assume her role in the coming weeks. McVay will officially step down as CEO of Pact in March but will continue to provide strategic guidance to Warner in the interim.
