John McVay emerges at AI training platform

Former Pact chief executive John McVay has been appointed the vice-chair of AI training platform AIMICI.

McVay will take over the board chair position from the incumbent portfolio manager and investment advisor Sir John Lucas-Tooth, when he steps back from the company. His work will be focused on standardising training and transparency of the evolving technology.

UK-based AIMICI works with the screen industry, helping creative businesses equip their teams with knowledge around AI and setting clear standards for what responsible AI looks like. This summer, it launched its Responsible AI training standard, the first AI courses to be accredited by ScreenSkills. Shortly after, Pact became a launch partner for the accredited AI courses.

McVay said: “Before you can manage risk, you need to understand it. Confusion in the market means that responsible rapid adoption of the technology is stalling, and misinformation can cause paralysis.

“AIMICI is addressing this by focusing on standardising AI training and transparency. Having created the first AI competency certification standard for the industry and upskilling the community with the right technology and insights, we can level the playing field and get on with what we do best—telling stories the world wants to hear.

“The instinct toward transparency is the right one. The execution gap is what the next twelve months need to close.”

He brings more than three decades of leadership across television and digital production, having stepped down from his chief exec position earlier this year.

During his nearly 25 years at Pact, he helped secure landmark victories for the sector including the Terms of Trade under the Communications Act 2003, which allowed indies to retain their IP for the first time.

He also sits on the Creative Industries Council and has served on the boards of the British Film Commission, the Creative Diversity Network, and the Creative Cities Convention.

AIMICI founder Ahsan Mallick said: “John is legendary in the business as an innovator of policy and a champion of new vanguards. His deep industry knowledge, connections, and advocacy for fair and transparent ways of working make him the perfect addition to our team.

“His relationships with unions and industry stakeholders will facilitate our ability to establish workable AI guidelines for all production businesses.”