David Puttnam is to step down as chair of the Film London Executive Task Force later this month, with Left Bank Pictures CEO Andy Harries moving into the role.
Puttnam has led the Task Force since becoming its inaugural chair in 2004. During his tenure he has overseen the introduction of the first road closure legislation for filming in the UK, as well as the launch of the London Filming Partnership in 2005.
“We can all take pride in what’s been achieved during my tenure,” said Puttnam, “including the design and implementation of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act of 2008 and the subsequent - and very significant - increase in all types of filming in our city (whether it be feature films, television, advertisements or student films).”
Harries founded UK production firm Left Bank Pictures in 2007, scoring an international hit with Netflix series The Crown, which debuted in 2016.
The Film London Executive Task Force is comprised of key stakeholders from the industry and public sector, with the aim of ensuring that location filming in London is conducted as efficiently and successfully as possible.
Other film industry members on the 24-strong Force include Daniel Battsek, director of Film4 and chair of Film London; Eric Fellner, co-chairman at Working Title Films; John McVay, chief executive at Pact; Seetha Kumar, chief executive at ScreenSkills; and Ben Holt, director physical production at Netflix.
Members from outside the industry include Andy Byford, commissioner of Transport for London; Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail; and Barbara Gray, deputy assistant commissioner for the Metropolitan Police.
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