Screen International editor to take new post from early August.

Protagonist Pictures has appointed Mike Goodridge as its new CEO, effective from early August.

Ben Roberts, previous CEO, announced in April that he was leaving Protagonist. Roberts will serve as new head of the BFI Film Fund from June.

Goodridge has worked at Screen International since 1994, including 12 years as US editor in Los Angeles and the past three years in London as editor.

Goodridge said: “I am very excited to be taking over the reins at Protagonist, which has grown into such an identifiable brand so quickly in the marketplace. I can’t wait to take on this new chapter in my career and work with the brilliant team at the company to build on what Ben Roberts has achieved in the first four years.”

Nigel Williams, Chairman of Protagonist added: “We are delighted to have recruited someone with Mike’s experience and standing within the industry. He has done an outstanding job at Screen and we are very confident that he will build on the very strong foundations that have been put in place by Ben and the team to continue Protagonist’s growth. Protagonist is an ambitious business and we believe Mike is the ideal person to lead us to fulfilling our ambitions.”

Protagonist is the international sales and financing company established in 2008 by shareholders Film4, Vertigo Films and Ingenious Media. Nigel Williams joined as majority shareholder and Chairman in 2010. Protagonist has sold titles including StreetDance, Tyrannosaur, Kill List, The Imposter, How I Live Now, Sightseers and The Sweeney.

Wendy Mitchell, Screen International’s current Head of Content, will serve as Acting Editor until a new editor is confirmed. She will work with Goodridge during a handover period until the end of July.

Conor Dignam, managing director of Screen International said: “Mike has done a fantastic job as editor of Screen over the last three years. He took the brand from a weekly print led product to a digitally focused daily news service through ScreenDaily.com. The Screen market dailies at Cannes, Berlin, Toronto and AFM are the clear market leaders and that is because of the great editorial team Mike has built here. We wish him all the best in his new role. An announcement on the new editor of Screen will be made shortly.”