ScreenSkills has announced that Laura Mansfield has decided to step down as chief executive officer and that she will continue as CEO until her departure in mid-August.
Lisa Opie, ScreenSkills chair, will step in as executive chair and, together with chief operating officer Matt Fox, will provide “leadership continuity”, supported by the Senior Leadership Team until a new CEO is appointed.
“During her tenure, Mansfield established ScreenSkills’ new five-year strategy, focusing on developing a highly skilled and well-trained workforce with rapid identification and addressing of skills gaps and shortages,” said ScreenSkills.
“This strategy, endorsed by the UK Screen Sectors Skills Taskforce, was devised in collaboration with the wider screen industry to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce, responsive to emerging technologies and a pan-sector, collaborative approach to skills provision.”
Since becoming CEO in January 2024, Mansfield has led the charity through a “period of growth: setting a clear plan for the charity to act as strategic lead for the screen sector, strengthening governance, and deepening partnerships across industry”.
In the last financial year income grew by 14%, ScreenSkills revealed, with 2026/27 set to see over £20m invested in support of beneficiaries across the sector.
Last year ScreenSkills supported almost 34,000 people, with reach beyond London growing to 67%.
Under Mansfield’s leadership, the ScreenSkills Training Passport grew from a pilot into a widely recognised tool for evidencing professional development. She has worked to expand ScreenSkills direct and third-party AI training for the industry including responsible use of AI.
Mansfield also championed the Discover Creative Careers programme which ScreenSkills led in partnership with 17 industry organisations across creative industries, reaching over 146,000 young people and widening access to careers in animation, film, television, games, and visual effects.
Opie said: “As the screen sector faces rapid change driven by technology, market shifts, and evolving audience expectations, ScreenSkills’ role is more crucial than ever. Laura has revitalised ScreenSkills and led us through the first and most critical phase of that mission with energy, passion, skill, and dedication.
“The sector is better placed to face those challenges because of her work. The board of trustees and I are very grateful to her and wish her every success.”
Mansfield instigated a number of major research initiatives that have enabled the industry to understand the state of the workforce across the UK, including Sizing Up: Workforce Composition and Capacity in the Screen Industries (An Ampere Analysis report for ScreenSkills and 4Skills) and Powering Production – Identifying skills needs in the UK’s screen industry.
She also chaired the Creative Industry Council Skills Audit Industry Steering group, supporting cross-sector collaboration on data and research.
Mansfield said: “Our five-year strategy set out an ambitious direction, and I am immensely proud of how far the team and I have come in delivering it.
“Our UK-wide approach ensures that talent development reaches every corner of the country. The foundations for the next phase are in place, and I leave ScreenSkills in great shape to build on them.”
