The chairman of the Midlands regional screen agency has announced he is to step down, just weeks after Channel 4 confirmed it will be locating a national hub of its £10 million innovations fund in Birmingham.

Jonnie Turpie, director of digital media at Maverick Television, has chaired Screen WM since 2002, but the agency is now looking to appoint a new chairperson to support the implementation of its new digital strategy.

This will include managing the £10 million Digital Media Fund, part of the broadcaster's Four Innovation for the Publc Fund to commission new talent from England and Wales.

As executive chair Mr Turpie played a key part in securing Screen WM's £4 million Advantage Media Production Fund, developing a strong partnership with Advantage West Midlands, Government Office WM and is a national advocate of the region's screen industries.

He said: "It has been fantastic to have been part of the agency's development and to see it go from strength to strength and take its rightful place on the national film, TV and digital media arenas. Our feature film investment strategy has been of particular pride and I look forward to the new slate of films hitting the screens."

He added: "Digital is a major strand of Screen WM's Business Plan from 2008-11, and from July, the agency will be in a position to start allocating significant funds to digital media companies. It is imperative that the board is led by a chair who is independent from the digital media sector, to enable fair and open applications for these funds."

Suzie Norton, chief executive of Screen WM, said: "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Jonnie for his enormous contribution and support."