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 United Kingdom based Managing Director operating in the TV space. If you think a Managing 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.
Neil McRae
Managing Director and Chief Architect of BT Global Services
Named after Neil Armstrong, Neil has a personal purpose of working to connect as many people together as possible, and this is been a driving force in his career. Since the early nineties Neil has been a leading innovator in the Internet and Telecommunications industry: from using open software to create one of the first service providers in the UK, to building several Global Telecommunications and Internet Networks. Neil has significant knowledge and experience in IP technologies and also significant experience with Optical, Mobile, Voice, xDSL, MPLS and Ethernet. He ran Network Engineering at COLT for ten years, (where he also contributed to COLT’s datacentre build) and ran Network Engineering at Cable and Wireless for four years. For the last four years Neil has led BT’s global network strategy, culminating in extending BT’s leading position in the Gartner magic quadrant, and supporting significant global network expansion. In addition, Neil has worked to expand BT’s footprint and capability in the UK, from BT’s fibre network through to Ethernet, Broadband and TV services. Neil is one of two ‘Distinguished Engineers’ in BT. Neil has been involved in the start-up of many internet governance and supporting organisations, and has been a non-executive director of the London Internet Exchange for fifteen years. Neil has studied leadership and management at Sloan School of Management. He is married with one daughter and has a passion for motorsports and technology.
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About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
Howard Watson
Managing Director – Architecture and Global IT Platforms of BT Global Services
Howard was appointed as CEO of BT’s Technology, Service and Operations division, and Group CIO, in January 2016. As CEO of TSO, Howard is in charge of the company’s ‘engine room’; thirteen thousand staff and eight thousand contractors responsible for BT’s core networks and IT systems across the globe. The division manages the company’s internal and external platforms – including TV, Mobile and Conferencing – as well as BT’s world class research and development arm at Adastral Park, Suffolk. BT TSO Previously, Howard was BT’s Chief Architect and MD Global IT Systems, and led the technical teams behind the launch of BT Sport in August 2013. In this role he also transformed the way software development is carried out at BT. He joined BT in October 2011, bringing 30 years of telecoms experience with him, including time spent at Virgin Media and Telewest, and as MD of Cartesian, a telecommunications consultancy and software company. Howard possesses a broad knowledge of technical and operational leadership with expertise in engineering, strategic development and business transformation. His areas of expertise include telephony, digital TV, IP services, high definition TV and ‘ultra’ high speed broadband. He also has experience of integrating networks and IT from his time in the cable industry, experience that will prove useful as BT integrates its network with EE’s. Howard is 53 years old with three children, and is also a qualified pilot.
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About BT Global Services: BT Global Services plc is a division of United Kingdom telecommunications operator BT Group.
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.
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.
Monty Halls
Founder & Managing Director & Executive Producer of Seadog Television and Film Productions
Monty is a well known BBC presenter, having fronted three series of BBC 2’s ‘Great Escapes’, as well as ‘Great Barrier Reef’ and ‘The Fisherman’s Apprentice.’ He has also presented films and series’ for Discovery, The History Channel, Channel 5, National Geographic, and Channel 4. More recently he has created several series concepts, including ‘Dive Mysteries’ and ‘The Great Shark Chase’, and has worked more actively as a producer and originator of new content.
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About Seadog Television and Film Productions: Seadog is an independent television and commercial production company founded by Monty Halls.
