Creative Mentor Network, a charity dedicated to promoting social diversity and breaking the class ceiling in the UK creative industries, has announced the appointment of Louie St Claire as their new Chair of Trustees. The announcement was made on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Louie St Claire brings with him 25 years of experience in the creative and communications industry, with a focus on technology and media sectors. He has successfully led and built multiple agencies, as well as worked in-house for top companies such as Microsoft and O2. He is a strong advocate for the industry and is committed to improving access for individuals from all backgrounds.
In a statement, Louie expressed his excitement for his new role and his belief that a more equitable and inclusive creative industry leads to better work and business for everyone. He also emphasized the importance of dismantling barriers for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and providing them with access to opportunities and careers they may not have known existed. He believes that the work of Creative Mentor Network has become more crucial than ever and he looks forward to supporting the charity in its next stage of development.
Louie replaces Russ Lidstone, who has served as Chair for the past six years. Russ expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with the talented trustees and executive team at Creative Mentor Network. He noted the achievements of the charity in helping young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds gain exposure and opportunities in the creative economy. He also expressed his confidence in Louie’s capabilities and the importance of his appointment at such a critical time for the charity, young people, and the creative industries.
Louie will be working closely with the Board of Trustees and the Creative Mentor Network team. Katie Thomson-Greene, CEO, also welcomed Louie to the Board of Trustees and praised his passion and dedication to improving social diversity in the creative industries. She highlighted the need for CMN’s work in light of the decreasing representation of class diversity in the industry and expressed her excitement for the next phase of the charity with Louie’s strategic experience and support.
In addition to Louie, Jessica Holland has also joined the charity as a trustee. Jessica is a tech leader with experience in transformation, change, and operations across various sectors. She is also a long-time trustee for the National House Project, which supports young people leaving care. Jessica shared her personal connection to the mission of Creative Mentor Network, having experienced firsthand the transformative power of mentorship and sponsorship in her own career. She is deeply committed to CMN’s work and ensuring that others have access to the same opportunities that helped her achieve professional success.
Last year, Creative Mentor Network celebrated its 10th anniversary. In the past decade, the charity has supported over 2,000 young people through their mentoring and training programs, working with top companies such as Amazon Prime Video, Soho House, Sony, and WeTransfer. Their goal is to create more opportunities for access and development within the creative industries for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Creative Mentor Network is currently looking for a new Treasurer to join the charity as a trustee. Interested individuals can visit their website for more information.
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