Andy Palmer

Andy brings considerable experience to Marquis having spent over 30 years in the broadcast industry. During this time,
he has acquired a vast appreciation of file-based processes having worked with leading companies including S4C,
TVNZ and the BBC. As head of technical operations for S4C,
he was responsible for the development of integrated automation, asset management and server workflows,
and also worked on the launch of new channels for the company's digital terrestrial and digital satellite platforms. Whilst at TVNZ as acting Broadcast Engineering Manager,
he supplied consultancy to their tapeless file based
workflow project.

Andy has extensive project management experience, instigating and managing engineering and operational projects and practises, including design and specification of transmission systems and general broadcast architecture.

Previously he project managed, S4C's launch to air in 1982, the move to new premises and transmission infrastructure in 1990, the design and implementation of S4C's two digital services in 1998 and the commercial play-out system in 2000.

Career Summary

Jun 08 - Feb 09
Broadcast Engineering Manager TVNZ

Providing interim management and consultancy for TVNZ's tapeless workflow project, overseeing MAM selection and requirements capture.

Mar 90 - April 08
Head of Technical Operations, S4C

Deputy to Director of Engineering and Technology. Department covering all operational and engineering aspects of broadcast and IT. Particular responsibility for development and strategy of automation, asset management and server systems. Working with S4C Commercial launching new channels on S4C's DTT and DSAT platforms.

Aug 82 - Mar 90
Supervisory Shift Leader S4C

Leader of operational shifts dealing with all aspects of transmission including, MCR, VTR, Editing, Graphics and Studio.

Aug 77 - Aug 82
Broadcast Engineer BBC Wales

As Head of Technical Operations at S4C, Andy was responsible for 37 operational and engineering staff. He was accountable for the output, engineering and operational integrity of one analogue and two digital services, spanning Digital Terrestrial and Digital Satellite. Transmission, Studio, Maintenance, Library, Archive, Editing and Graphics.

Among the third party channels he managed were Einstein TV and YOU TV, this required a high degree of client management. For the last 18 years of his career at S4C Andy was responsible for the integration and administration of the automation platforms on Analogue and Digital services. He was also the architect of the commercial play-out systems installed in 2000.

During the last 5 years he acted as the systems integrator and project manager for the Dalet Asset Management System, this has involved extensive workflow analysis and tailoring of the software and working methods to allow seamless integration with Automation and Business Management systems. Working in partnership with Dalet software and systems enabled him to deliver a Tapeless workflow system within S4C. This also involved presenting a paper at IBC in Amsterdam in Sept 06. His paper on Tapeless Workflows was published in the EBU technical journal for April 2007.

Andy is used to tight procurement criteria and maintenance of budgetary control. He is able to judge cost effectiveness, and evaluate return on investment of time and resources. He has robust line management, staff assessment and development experience, including Team Briefing, Appraisals and employment interviews. Part of this has encompassed eighteen years of IR experience, the last ten from the management side of the fence, sometimes covering sensitive and unpleasant issues.

As Head of Technical Operations at S4C Andy became well versed in founding initiatives within the Engineering and Operations department, drawing on the ability to be creative and generate ideas. The VT Operator training scheme, which began in 1992, was one such initiative. This scheme has helped forty or fifty people get started in the industry, going on to work for TV companies in the UK and abroad.

Andy was an active member of the EBU Technical Group, and has been a senior member of the Skill Set Task Force in the UK which has been responsible for the derivation and implementation of qualifications for the industry. In 2004 he finished his post graduate MA investigating Organisational Culture.