Former Trinity Mirror (LSE: TNI), Tiscali and Manchester City digital executive Richard Ayers has taken up a new role heading digital business development at the British Film Institute (BFI) charity.
Ayers will examine ways to unlock the BFI’s own archive of classic movies, TV shows and related historical materials, as well as to leverage a large amount of data the BFI keeps about the sectors.
Avenues could include mobile apps for genre aficionados or connected TV apps for examining film information from the sofa.
Ayers will work with existing BFI digital director Paula Le Dieu.
Despite handing over the Manchester City digital reins to Russell Stopford after a year, Ayers remains a part-time digital “playmaker” at the club, where he will advise on innovation on a part-time basis.
The BFI took over the UK Film Council’s functions and funding in 2011.
It publishes the Sight & Sound magazine and FindanyFilm.com, a data-rich web service for locating movies and comparing prices across DVD and digital retailers.