All3Media’s Geater to chair Pact Council

Sarah Geater has been elected chair of the Pact Council and will replace Laura Mansfield in the position at the UK indies trade body.

Geater is the former FremantleMedia UK CEO who joined All3Media as COO last year.

She has also been head of commercial affairs at Channel 4 and director of rights and business affairs at the BBC, where she worked with Pact on the first Terms of Trade, the rules that allowed indies to retain and exploit programming rights.

As well her involvement with Pact, Geater is chair of the commercial committee at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

Geater, who was elected to the chair role by Pact members and starts in 2017, replaces Laura Mansfield, whose tenure runs out at the end of the year.

“Pact continues to play a vital role in driving and promoting the commercial interests of TV, film and digital production companies both in the UK and globally,”Geater said. “I’m looking forward to building on the great work of Laura Mansfield and the current Pact Council in the New Year”.

Laura Mansfield said:  “Sara is one of our industry’s most admired leaders. Her balance of experience and perspective which spans broadcaster, indie and ‘superindie’ will be invaluable at such an important time. I’m delighted to be handing the baton to Sara, and know she’ll be a great leader for Council and support for John McVay and the team.”

The Pact Council’s Northern Ireland and Welsh Representatives were also confirmed
with Kieran Doherty from Sony prodco Stellify taking the former role, and Gillane Seabourne from indie Midnight Oil the latter.

All of the new positions are effective from January.