S4C CEO presented as Fellow

Ian Jones

Ian Jones, Chief Executive of S4C has been presented as Fellow of Aberystwyth University today, Friday 12 July.

An Economics alumnus of the University, Ian Jones was presented by Dr Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies.

Ian Jones was instrumental in the launch of S4C in 1982. After a period working at ITV and as an independent producer, he re-joined S4C as Director of Business, S4C International and Co-productions in 1992.

Since then he has worked in senior positions for Scottish Television, United News and Media, (ITEL), Granada International (now ITV Global) and served an unprecedented two years as Chair of the British Television Distribution Industry Association (BTDA).

He was President of National Geographic Television International, before becoming Group Managing Director of Target Entertainment.

Until his appointment to S4C he was Managing Director, Content Distribution and Commercial Development, International for A+E Television Networks in New York.

Presentation of Ian Jones by Dr Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones

Lywydd, braint a phleser yw cyflwyno Ian Jones yn gymrawd o Brifysgol Aberystwyth. President, it is my privilege and pleasure to present Ian Jones as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Ian Jones yw Prif Weithredwr S4C, ac fel nifer o bobl allweddol ym myd darlledu yng Nghymru, yma yn Aberystwyth y graddiodd o, ac mae hynny wrth gwrs yn destun balchder mawr i ni. Mae’n hyfryd cael dy gwmni di yma heddiw Ian, ac rydym am estyn croeso arbennig i dy deulu atom ni hefyd.

Ian Jones is the Chief Executive of S4C, the Welsh language television channel. He graduated from Aberystwyth in Economics, during his period here he was a resident of Neuadd Pantycelyn, the designated Welsh-speaking Hall of Residence.

Yn ystod ei gyfnod yma, daeth i adnabod pobl o sawl gwlad, ac roedd â’i ben yn ei astudiaethau – medde fe – hynny yw pan nad oedd ei ben mewn sgrym rygbi. Ian played rugby for the College team here, and also, closer to home, for Swansea’s second team.

Roedd Ian yn un o’r tîm cynhyrchu a lansiodd S4C yn ôl yn 1982, pan groesawodd Owen Edwards, y Prif Weithredwr cyntaf, y gwylwyr i ‘aelwyd S4C’. Wedi cyfnod o weithio gyda London Weekend Television ym maes Adloniant, ailymunodd ag S4C ddegawd yn ddiweddarach fel Cyfarwyddwr Busnes, S4C Rhyngwladol a Chyd-gynyrchiadau, yn gyfrifol am werthu rhai o raglenni S4C o gwmpas y byd.

Ian was a member of the original team that launched S4C back in 1982, the first dedicated Welsh language television channel. He then spent some years in the ITV network and worked on some of the most successful British Entertainment shows of that period.

In 1992, Ian returned to S4C in charge of S4C International and Co-productions, and Welsh produced television such as Superted and the Animated Shakespeare series gained international audiences across the globe. This too was a time of Oscar nominations for Welsh language feature films, a ‘Hedd Wyn’ wrth gwrs yn cael ei henwebu.

Wedi hynny aeth Ian ymlaen i weithio mewn swyddi uchel gyda Scottish Television, United News and Media, (ITEL), Granada International (ITV Global erbyn hyn) a bu'n Gadeirydd ar y British Television Distribution Industry Association.

Ian has been President of National Geographic Television International – a company that employed ‘explorers in residence’ – am deitl swydd /what a great job title – and Ian worked alongside such people as Bob Ballard, Professor of Oceanography and more famously the maritime archaeologist who discovered the wrecks of the Titanic. Ian later joined Target Entertainment as Group Managing Director. And before returning to Wales in 2011, Ian was Managing Director with A+E Television Networks in New York.

Yn amlwg, mae Ian Jones yn ddyn sydd yn awchu am her – yn ei waith proffesiynol ond hefyd yn ei hamdden a’i ddiddordebau. Mae wedi hedfan hofrennydd ac mae’n ddeifiwr profiadol. In his professional life, Ian obviously enjoys new and exciting challenges. And in his spare time, I understand that he’s a deep sea driver and can fly a helicopter. There’s something of the ‘explorer in residence’ in him too.

Wrth iddo gyflwyno ei weledigaeth ar gyfer S4C, mae uchelgais Ian Jones dros y sianel yn amlwg. Mae o’n arweinydd hyderus sydd yn gwrando yn ogystal â siarad, sydd yn cyfathrebu’n glir ac sydd yn credu mewn dirprwyo wrth iddo rheoli. Mae o’n gyson yn pwysleisio pwysigrwydd gweithio mewn partneriaeth; partneriaeth gyda’r gynulleidfa a phartneriaeth gyda phob sector sydd yn cyfrannu at greu cynnwys. Mae’r Brifysgol hon, ac yn enwedig Adran Astudiaethau Theatr Ffilm a Theledu, yn falch iawn o’r cyfleoedd sydd gennym ni i gydweithio gydag S4C. Mae nifer o’r rhai sydd yma heddiw yn graddio wedi elwa’n uniongyrchol o’r berthynas yma – ac yn ystod eu hastudiaethau wedi cael lleoliad gwaith, cyfleoedd i ymchwilio ac astudio’r diwydiant yma yng Nghymru, a rhai eisoes wedi cael cynnig swyddi.

S4C faces fierce competition in the digital world and very challenging financial conditions. Ian Jones’s determination and ambition for the channel is clear. He is a leader who listens, who communicates and who believes in leadership through empowerment and delegation. He has shown that he works in partnership with the audience and with all sectors that contribute towards producing creative content. Aberystwyth University is very proud to be part of that network of partnerships too: our students especially at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies benefit enormously from this close relationship. Many of you graduating today will have had firsthand experience of the creative industries in Wales – through placements, visits, guest speakers and research projects – and you will know of the key role that S4C plays in that industry and how important the creative digital economy is for our future prosperity.

Rydym ni oll yn dymuno’n dda iawn i ti Ian yn yr her o arwain S4C, ac rydym yn hyderus y byddi yn cyflawni’r her honno gyda’r llwyddiant sydd mor nodweddiadol o dy yrfa.

Lywydd, braint a phleser yw cyflwyno Ian Jones yn gymrawd o Brifysgol Aberystwyth.

President, it is my privilege and pleasure to present Ian Jones as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

AU24913

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