Screen Yorkshire announces the recruitment of two new high-profile executives to its board today. Andrew Sheldon, Co-Founder of True North and Fiona Melvin, Director of Finance and Operations at New Writing North, bring more than 45 years’ worth of experience to the board. John Wiggins joins Screen Yorkshire’s Senior Management Team as its new Head of Finance, bringing over 35 years of accountancy experience to the role. Andrew, Fiona and John will help drive forward Screen Yorkshire’s vision to sustain and grow Yorkshire’s reputation as a global destination for content, talent, skills and innovation within the UK’s screen industries.

Andrew Sheldon has been at the heart of the TV industry in Yorkshire for more than 30 years, first as a programme maker and then as the co-founder of Leeds based factual production company True North. The company, which is the biggest factual indie outside of London, has a team of more than 150 people making content in Leeds that is seen around the world. Both founded in 2002, Screen Yorkshire and True North have worked side by side, weathering many challenges and successes of Yorkshire’s ground-breaking screen sector for more than 20 years; from the dramatic cuts to investment in regional production in 2011, through to cementing Yorkshire’s position as the UK’s fastest growing region for film and TV production in 2017. Screen Yorkshire and True North were both pivotal to securing the landmark bid for Channel 4’s new National Headquarters, which opened its doors in Leeds in 2021.

Andrew has extensive knowledge of UK broadcasting, both as a programme maker and as an industry figure, having previously appeared in Broadcast Magazine’s annual top 20 list of industry influencers. After recently stepping down from True North, he continues to work as an executive producer and is also a Creative Mentor on the Advisory Board of Channel 4’s Growth Fund.

Fiona Melvin is Director of Finance and Operations at New Writing North, the writing development agency for the North of England, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Fiona oversees the administrative and financial operations of the organisation including HR, risk, governance, and data reporting.

Alongside its board appointments, Screen Yorkshire has recruited John Wiggins as its new Head of Finance, bringing over 35 years of accountancy experience to Screen Yorkshire’s Senior Management Team. A chartered certified accountant and STEP member with diplomas in corporate governance and international trust management, John’s career spans financial roles in Ontario, Canada (where in 2005 he also qualified as a Certified General Accountant) the Caribbean, the Channel Islands and the UK, in a wide range of sectors and organisations. A graduate in music from the University of Sheffield, John is continuing his professional education with two masters’ programmes in business and professional accountancy.