Ex-Pinewood, Leavesden exec Noel Tovey named MD of Sky Studios Elstree

UK pay TV operator Sky has appointed Noel Tovey as managing director of its new film and TV studio, Sky Studios Elstree.

Noel Tovey

In his new role, Tovey will take on overall responsibility for the management of Sky Studios Elstree as it becomes home to a range of productions from Sky and NBCUniversal (NBCU) after it opens later this year.

He joins a senior leadership team which includes recently appointed director of operations Tom Avison and director of client services Roger Ferrin.

Prior to joining Sky, Tovey held senior leadership roles at Pinewood Studios, Warner Bros Leavesden and Shepperton Studios. The exec has over 30 years’ experience in the industry.

Caroline Cooper, chief operating officer at Sky Studios, said: “Noel has a vast range of experience within the industry and a deep knowledge of what productions want and need. I am delighted he’s joined Sky to lead our growing team as we prepare to launch Sky Studios Elstree later this year.”

With 13 sound stages across 27.5 acres, the studio complex is set to attract £3bn (US$3.7bn) of new production investment to the UK over the next five years, creating 2,000 new production jobs along the way.

Universal Pictures’ forthcoming movie Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, will be the first production to take up residence at the studio.

Sky Studios Elstree’s ambition is to become the world’s most sustainable film and TV studio, while functioning as a training ground to develop the next generation of film and TV talent.

Through Sky’s Content Academy, the studio is currently recruiting school leavers or recent graduates to take up 12 new year-long, fully-paid roles across its client services, operations and production services teams.

In addition, Sky’s sister company NBCUniversal announced a talent and training partnership last week in collaboration with The Mayor of London and Film London.

The traineeships form part of the Below-the-Line initiative and will give young Londoners from underrepresented communities the opportunity to work behind the camera on high-end NBCU productions, including Wicked.