Initial announced a series of changes within its leadership team, seeing Nick Samwell-Smith, Managing Director of Initial to leave after 18 years; Mirella Breda, Creative Director of Initial will take over Samwell-Smith; and Sandra Smith has been promoted to Director of Production.

First joining Initial in 1997, Samwell-Smith became the company’s Creative Director in 2006 before being promoted to Managing Director in 2013. He will be succeeded in the role by Breda who joined Initial in early 2014 following a succession of senior roles within broadcasting and production at the BBC, ITV and RDF amongst others. Additionally, Smith, Initial’s Head of Production since 2011, is promoted to the newly created role of Director of Production.