Melbourne-based production company Matchbox Pictures has appointed former ABC TV executive Chris Oliver-Taylor as the company's managing director.
Oliver-Taylor will join the company in mid-November, ending a six-year stint with the ABC where he was head of business and operations. He replaces joint chief executives (and active producers) Helen Bowden and Michael McMahon.
In a statement, Bowden and McMahon, described Oliver-Taylor as "a talented executive with a great breadth of experience, solid commercial knowledge and strong business acumen".
"Through his role at the ABC he has played a key role in development and production for the Australian television industry."
Matchbox was formed in 2009 by producers Bowden, McMahon, Tony Ayres, Penny Chapman and Helen Panckhurst. The company has produced a diverse range of screen projects including upcoming ABC series The Slap, as well as feature films such as the John Hurt-drama Lou.
Matchbox recently sold a majority stake in the business to US broadcast company NBCUniversal International. Matchbos was previously awarded $750,000 by Screen Australia in 2009 as part of the enterprise program aimed at building larger and more sustainable local production companies.