Industry veteran Mike Luckwell has been appointed chairman of the new association charged with representing the UK's post-production sector at home and internationally.

The new post-production trade body will initially be jointly financed by the DTI, UK Film Council and companies from the post-production community.

An open meeting will be held with post-production companies at BAFTA in London on 4 March 2004 at 6.30pm to outline the aims and objectives of the new association and to encourage involvement across the sector.

Luckwell set up The Moving Picture Company in 1970. When the company was sold to Carlton Communications in 1983, Luckwell became Carlton's managing director, a post he held until 1986. He is currently a director of various private, and publicly quoted media companies and has a portfolio of investments in the media sector both in the UK and US.

A recent report commissioned by the UK Film Council and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) revealed that the UK post-production sector has helped to generate £1.39 billion for the UK economy and 15,000 jobs.

The report also found that more than 96% of post-production companies surveyed backed the creation of a new industry organisation to raise the profile of and expand the sector still further.

The new body intends to: represent the sector to government on fiscal, legislative and workforce issues, and technical standards; identify and tackle current and future skills gaps within the sector; provide support to a sector which is predominantly made up of small and medium-sized businesses; and strengthen international awareness to encourage increased use of UK post-production facilities.

Luckwell commented: "The first key step will be our inaugural meeting at BAFTA next month where we will discuss the structure and objectives of the association in partnership with the post-production sector."

Steve Norris, British Film Commissioner and head of the UK Film Council's International Department said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Mike Luckwell has agreed to chair this vital new organisation which will play a major role in ensuring that the UK post-production sector builds on its current success in the future.