A North Wales TV company is looking to make two key appointments and harness the power of artificial intelligence as part of ambitious growth plans.<\/p>\n
Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da is restructuring the senior management team following the departure of managing director Llion Iwan to take up a new role as chief content officer at S4C.<\/p>\n
Former operations director Bethan Griffiths, who took the helm temporarily after he left in March, has now been appointed as chief executive.<\/p>\n
The aim now is to recruit a new content director and an operations director to expand the business into new UK and international markets in addition to the core output for S4C.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year the company launched a new scripted content\u00a0 department headed by award-winning actor, director and producer Martin Thomas.<\/p>\n
Recently Cwmni Da, which means good company, lived up to its name when it was crowned as one of the best places to work in the UK broadcast industry for the second year running.<\/p>\n
One of the reasons cited by the staff why they are so happy was the decision seven years ago to turn Cwmni Da into an employee owned trust which means they all have a stake in it.<\/p>\n
As a board member, Ms Griffiths played a major role in the transformation and says she\u2019s now looking forward to leading the company to \u201can even brighter future\u201d.<\/p>\n
But running a television production company wasn\u2019t on the cards when she studied for a degree in Welsh and media literature\u00a0 at Bangor University.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, rather than training to become a teacher like most of her peers, she opted instead to go for a diploma in bilingual administration at Coleg Menai.<\/p>\n
Her first foray into the world of broadcasting came when as part of the 12-month course she went on work experience to Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru (TAC) which represents independent TV production companies in Wales.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI then applied for a job with S4C providing maternity cover in the press office with the legend that is David Meredith, an unconventional \u2013 some might say slightly eccentric – but absolutely brilliant communicator, and the wonderful Aled Islwyn.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs well as learning a huge amount from them, we had a lot of fun along the way. It was a really good team.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the nine month contract came to end, Ms Griffiths returned to TAC, gaining accountancy qualifications along the way, before joining Ffilmiau\u2019r Bont.<\/p>\n
After landinga job as a finance officer with Cwmni Da in 2007, she rose through the ranks and went on a leadership course to Bangor University thanks to the then Cwmni Da owners Dylan \u201cDygs Huws\u201d, Neville Hughes and Ifor ap Glyn.<\/p>\n
She recalled: \u201cI really enjoyed it and I learned a lot but I didn\u2019t realise how valuable it was until later in my career when I became a board member here helping to implement the transition to become an employee owned trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the main reasons for the change was to safeguard the ethos of Cwmni Da and make sure it stayed rooted here in Caernarfon rather than being bought out by a larger company.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel it\u2019s worked really well because we\u2019ve retained our identity and the people who work here feel a real sense of ownership and commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are lucky to have a brilliant team here. Our staff are the beating heart of Cwmni Da \u2013 they are without doubt our greatest asset.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very privileged to have been appointed chief executive while at the same time feeling a real sense of responsibility which I take very seriously.<\/p>\n
\u201cLlion left big boots to fill but his departure was an opportunity to look at the structure of the company to make sure we\u2019re set up in the right way to grow and develop in future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new content director and operations director will be key appointments because they are going to be fundamentally important in shaping our future strategy. It\u2019s a really exciting development.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne big priority will be supporting and mentoring the team so they can reach their full potential individually and collectively so that we can fly as a company.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking television programmes in Welsh for S4C is the core of our output and that will always be the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody here is united in the desire to ensure that the Welsh language thrives but we are also keen to provide programmes for non-Welsh speaking people in Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecently, we have been very successful in making programmes in English, like the Chris Cooks Cymru series featuring the remarkable chef, Chris \u201cFlamebaster\u201d Roberts, for BBC Wales and three extraordiany stories for the Our Lives strand for the channel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also looking to international horizons because we have the ability and talent to cater for audiences outside Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith that in mind, we have built up and retained relationships with broadcast partners in the Celtic countries as well as Korea and China.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other thing that sets Cwmni Da apart is that we are able to work across multiple genres, including entertainment, documentaries, true crime and drama as well as children\u2019s programmes.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cAs part of our evolution, we are looking at the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence\u2013 done sensibly with proper safeguards it can add real value to our programme making.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are already using AI in at least two programmes which are due to be broadcast later this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are using different kinds of AI to enable dramatic reconstruction by using an image or archive material to create footage from it as well as forensic analysis of evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAI is also a very useful tool in conducting audience research to find out definitively what people actually want to watch \u2013 but we are very clear that all findings need to be properly checked and verified by the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that for two years running Cwmni Da has been named as one of the best places in the UK broadcast industry speaks volumes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappy staff create great content and that\u2019s what we\u2019re all about.\u201d<\/p>\n