Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top London based Director operating in the TV space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Guillaume Sampic
Strategy Director and Internet of Things of BT Global Services
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About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
Adrian Drury
Group Technology Strategy & Insight Director of Liberty Global
Adrian leads Liberty Global’s technology strategy group within the Liberty Technology & Innovation group, defining the roadmaps and assessing the technology choices, for entertainment and connectivity service delivery platforms that enable Liberty’s product roadmap. Adrian is educated at London School of Economics and London Business School.
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About Liberty Global, Liberty Global, Liberty Global: Liberty Global is an international cable company providing television, broadband internet, and telephony services.
John Paul
Managing Director, Advanced Advertising and Data of Liberty Global
John Paul is Managing Director, Advanced Advertising and Data for Liberty Global and is based in the Company’s London office. He is responsible for the development of new advertising models, partnerships and employment of data across the company. John has over 25 years experience in the broadcast and cable sector with a focus on operations and emerging product strategy. Before rejoining Liberty Global in 2014 he was CTO of Special Broadcasting Service (SBS Australia), COO of Australia Network, and Founder & Managing Partner of Trident Media Partners where he advised Tier 1 media firms: NBC, News Corporation, Telstra and Foxtel on strategy and infrastructure. Prior to this, he was part of UGC, Liberty Global’s predecessor, where he worked in Australia on the launch of AUSTAR and its triple-play products and helped the company explore investment opportunities in Asia. He was a principal architect of Australia’s early pay TV industry – with Australis Media and has served on the boards of SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) and Freeview Australia. He began his career in family trade publishing businessTV Editorial Corporation and NBC Affiliate operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from American University and is a Dux graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College.
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About Liberty Global: Liberty Global is an international cable company providing television, broadband internet, and telephony services.
Peter Collins
Director Production Security of WarnerMedia
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About WarnerMedia: WarnerMedia is a media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content to global audiences.
Simon Daglish
Group Commercial Director of ITV
After leaving school Simon decided that University was not for him and joined the army. This was followed by work in Venezuela, America and Australia before returning to the UK in 1991 to start work on the ‘new’ Daily Telegraph, which had recently been purchased by Conrad Black. Having managed the launch of the Saturday Magazine in 1995 he decided to set up his own publishing company, and in 1998 sold it to Tony O’Riley’s Independent Magazines. Simon then joined the fledgling Classic FM and within 4 years it had grown into the biggest commercial radio station in the UK and the most profitable. In 2005 Classic FM and its parent company GWR merged with Capital Radio and Simon became the Group Commercial Director. On the sale of GCap Media to Global, Simon left and joined the early social media revolution working for MySpace as Commercial Director. Simon joined ITV plc in January 2011 as Group Commercial Sales Director and was promoted to Deputy Managing Director, Commercial in January this year. In his free time he has rowed across the Irish Sea and walked to the South Pole, unsupported on both trips. He has also led an expedition to the North Pole with 4 wounded soldiers and HRH Prince Harry. Simon completed his second South Pole challenge in December 2013 for Walking With The Wounded, a charity which he founded and he has raised nearly £3 million for various charities.
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About ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Tom Betts
Director of Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions of ITV
Tom Betts is a Director of Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions at ITV plc.
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About ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Steve Forde
Director of Digital Products of ITV
Steve Forde has nearly 20 years of digital marketing and product experience. He has spent the majority of that working for the UK’s leading broadcasters. Steve joined ITV in 2015 having spent a decade at Channel 4 where he headed up the marketing for 4oD and the award winning viewer data strategy. Steve joined ITV to launch of the ITV Hub, which has had a 43% increase in viewing in it’s first year. As the Director of Product and Online Marketing, Steve is responsible for the ITV Hub’s product and viewer strategy. Him and his team of product, engagement and experience professionals are placing the viewer at the heart of the end-to-end viewer experience vision.
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About ITV, ITV, ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Gary Knight
Commercial Content Director of ITV
Gary began his career in commercial TV almost 39 years ago when he joined the airtime Sales Dept of London Weekend Television. He has held many roles in ITV companies across the subsequent years, including the Executive Director of commercial Ventures at Granada & the Brand Partnership Director’s role at the newly merged ITV. In his present position he is responsible for Sponsorship, Digital Partnerships, Branded Content & Product placement activities. He is also the commercial team’s main link into ITV’s production & commissioning teams, giving him a unique insight into this world. Although born within the sound of Bow Bells, he now lives in deepest Kent, closer To Paris than London & only a boat ride across the icy seas to his Viking ancestors base on Norwegian shores. Launching a version of Coronation Street in the Chinese market remains one of his most “ interesting “ achievements to date.
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About ITV: ITV is an integrated producer broadcaster, operating the largest commercial family of channels in the UK.
Kirstin Furber
People Director of Channel 4
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About Channel 4: Channel 4 provides public broadcasting services via television.
Mehrad Noori
Director, Global Programming of Comcast NBCUniversal
Mehrad Noori is Director, Global Programming, NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN), based at the company’s international headquarters in London. In this position, Noori acquires and produces scripted content for NBCUIN’s portfolio of channels (including Universal TV, SYFY and 13th Street). He is also responsible for creating original immersive content for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Noori most recently served as creator and executive producer on NBCUIN’s groundbre
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About Comcast NBCUniversal: A media and entertainment company.
Matt Campion
Founder & Creative Director of Spirit Digital Media
Matt is Founder & Creative Director of Spirit. Matt is a leading Content Producer for Television, Digital and Social platforms. He has extensive experience producing and directing highly successful interactive TV and multi-platform formats as well as managing a portfolio of successful Social Campaigns in the TV, Film and Gaming Industries. Previous to Spirit, Matt was an Executive Producer for Endemol where he launched and ran Gala TV, a 24/7 interactive Sky Channel for the largest national bingo brand, Gala Bingo. Matt oversees all creative output for Spirit, recently being responsible for a series of live spin-offs for C4 & E4 including: #WT4 (Channel4 News), Live in Chelsea (Made in Chelsea), GleasonFinale (Glee – Live from LA), Skins Live, T4 All-Stars and Home For The Holidays ‘Extra Stuffing’.
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About Spirit Digital Media: Multi award-winning, dynamic content creation, social media & analytics company.
Susan Vargo
Director of Live Theatricals of Nickelodeon
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About Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon: Nickelodeon is a cable and satellite television network that features animated shows, movies, comedies, and programs aimed at children.
Joshua Nino De Guzman
CEO, Co-Founder & Director of Dexerto
Joshua Nino De Guzman is the CEO & Co-Founder at Dexerto
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About Dexerto: Dexerto is the world’s largest digital esports and gaming lifestyle platform news platform.
Chris Marsh
Co-Founder & Director of Dexerto
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About Dexerto: Dexerto is the world’s largest digital esports and gaming lifestyle platform news platform.
Andrea Pilgram
Managing Director of Once Upon a Time
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About Once Upon a Time, Once Upon a Time: Once Upon a Time provides impactful integrated communication solutions.
Brian Cuttler
Operations Director of Compact Media Group
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About Compact Media Group: Compact Media Group is a full-service intellectual property rights management company distributing royalties for TV, film and music.
Pierdavide Marcolongo
COO & Board Director of V-Nova
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About : Next-generation video and image compression that works today
Mark Saunders
Producer/Director of Spectacle Productions
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About Birkbeck, University of London, Spectacle Productions: Spectacle Productions is an award winning independent television production company specialising in documentary.
Sebastian Thiel
Founder / Director of Upshot Entertainment
Sebastian Thiel is the Founder of Upshot Entertainment and Dope Black Art.
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About Dope Black Art, Upshot Entertainment: Upshot Entertainment is a motion pictures and film company that features an online TV channel.
Sebastian Thiel
Founder / Director of Upshot Entertainment
Sebastian Thiel is the Founder of Upshot Entertainment and Dope Black Art.
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About Dope Black Art, Upshot Entertainment: Upshot Entertainment is a motion pictures and film company that features an online TV channel.
