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 Director operating in the Broadcasting 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.
Richard Nockles
Creative Director | Sky VR of Sky UK
Richard Nockles has been at the cutting edge of 360º & VR innovation over the last 4 years. His company ‘Surround Vision’ in London produce award winning 360 projects for broadcasters and Agencies across the wide range of devices on the market.
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About Sky UK, Surround Vision: Sky is an entertainment company, serving 22 million customers across satellite, OTT, and broadband in five countries.
Stuart Murphy
Director of Entertainment of Sky UK
Stuart Murphy has been Director, Sky Entertainment Channels since 2013, with overall responsibility for Sky1, Sky Living, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts, Challenge and Pick TV, as well as the commissioning teams in Comedy, Drama, Factual and Entertainment. He is a board member of Jaunt, a tech start up in San Francisco. Stuart joined Sky as Director of Programmes, Sky1 in May 2009. He reduced the number of shows on Sky1 by a third, increased the cost per hour and as a result improved peak ratings in the first 12 months by 37%. He moved the channel in favour of commissions over US shows, and Sky1 now commissions more hours of drama than Channel4. Sky1 hits included Got To Dance (which sold to 8 territories including CBS), An Idiot Abroad (now in 37 territories and the third highest rating show on Sky1 in 20 years), BAFTA winning A League Of Their Own (in season 8), Stella (the highest rating UK comedy in Pay TV and BAFTA nominated), Mad Dogs (BAFTA nominated), Pineapple Dance Studios (BAFTA nominated), Moone Boy (winner of an International Emmy Award and 3 IFTA’s) and Modern Family. Strike Back, An Idiot Abroad and Treasure Island were the first Sky originations to be nominated for Emmy’s. In 2011 Sky1 won Channel of the Year for the first time ever. In September 2010 he was made Director of Commissioning, responsible for originations across the Sky wholly owned channel portfolio. In February 2011 he launched Sky Atlantic, the result of a multi year exclusive output deal between Sky and HBO. He commissioned Hunderby (winner 2 British Comedy Awards and BAFTA nominated), Paul Abbott drama Hit + Miss starring Chloe Sevigny, and Steve Coogan’s Places Of My Life (BAFTA winning). Within a year Sky Atlantic became responsible for 15% of all new subscribers joining Sky. In April 2012, he was appointed Director, Entertainment Channels. In this period, Sky Living comedy Doll and Em became the first Sky show ever to be sold to HBO, A Touch of Cloth won Best Comedy at the Broadcast Awards, A Young Doctor’s Notebook Best Multichannel Programme and An Act of Killing won a BAFTA Film Award as well as being nominated for an Oscar, David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive won a BAFTA and The Green Prince doc opened Sundance. Previous roles Stuart has held include Creative Director at Twofour Productions; Creative Director at RDF and the first Controller of BBC Three, commissioning Little Britain, Gavin and Stacey, Torchwood, Nighty Night, Bodies and parenting shows. Under his Controllership, BBC Three won Broadcast and MGEITF Channel of the Year. Before then he ran BBC Choice, UK Play and worked on shows such as The Sunday Show, Great Railway Journeys, The Big Breakfast and Reportage. He went to school in Leeds, studied Geography at Clare College, Cambridge, has two sons, and boxes.
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About Sky UK: Sky is an entertainment company, serving 22 million customers across satellite, OTT, and broadband in five countries.
Gary Davey
Managing Director of Content of Sky UK
Gary was appointed Managing Director, Content in January 2015. In this role, he has responsibility for Sky’s entertainment, movies and news channels in the UK and Ireland as well as the entire entertainment offering of Sky Deutschland where he has been Executive Vice President Programming since 2011. For the majority of his career, Gary has worked as a senior executive in the international pay TV industry holding senior roles in Europe, Asia and the US. Before joining Sky Deutschland in June 2010, Gary held a senior role at Sky Italia, where he was responsible for launching its terrestrial TV network, cielo. He has also worked as Managing Director of BSkyB in England and CEO of STAR TV in Hong Kong among his other roles.
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About Sky UK: Sky is an entertainment company, serving 22 million customers across satellite, OTT, and broadband in five countries.
Julian Przygrodzki
Marketing Director of Sky UK
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About Sky UK: Sky is an entertainment company, serving 22 million customers across satellite, OTT, and broadband in five countries.
Tim Davie
CEO & Director-General of BBC
Before he took up the role of CEO BBC Worldwide and Director, Global, Tim Davie was made Acting Director-General following the resignation of George Entwistle on 10 November 2012. Prior to this Tim was Director of BBC Audio & Music (now known as Radio). He had overall responsibility for BBC Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and the BBC digital-only stations 6 Music, 1Xtra, Radio 4 Extra (formerly Radio 7) and the Asian Network. He also oversaw the three BBC orchestras in England, the BBC Singers and the BBC Proms. Classical Music & Performance Television, Television Music Entertainment, Factual Radio and Radio Drama production are all within his remit, under the A&M Production department. Tim was appointed to the role of Director, Audio & Music on 1 September 2008. Previously he was Director of the BBC’s Marketing, Communications & Audiences division from April 2005 and before that Vice President, Marketing and Franchise, PepsiCo Europe. He read English at Cambridge University and from there joined Procter and Gamble’s marketing department, becoming a Brand Manager in 1991. He is a trustee of BBC Children in Need, Board member of RAJAR and Board member of DRUK. Tim is married with three young sons.
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Holly Goodier
Director Digital – BBC Portfolio of BBC
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Howard Stringer
Non Executive Director of BBC
Howard served as Chairman and CEO of the Sony Corporation from June 2005 until June 2012 when he became Chairman of the Board of Directors, retiring in June 2013. Howard joined Sony in May 1997 and was named Chairman and CEO of the Sony Corporation of America in 1998, responsible for Sony’s entertainment companies, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sony Music Publishing. Prior to joining Sony, Howard was President of CBS from 1988 to 1995, which became the first network to rise from last to first place in one season. From 1986 to 1988, Howard served as President of CBS News. He was executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather from 1981 to 1984, the dominant network evening newscast of its day. From 1976 to 1981, while he was executive producer of the CBS REPORTS, the documentary unit won more than 30 Emmys including nine individual awards. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Modern History from Oxford University. He also serves on the Board of Directors for TalkTalk and Time Inc., he is Chair of the School Board at Said Business School, Oxford University, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute and Chairman of Board of Advisors, Department of Opthalmology, Columbia University Medical Centre. Howard has also received Honorary Doctorates from Oxford University, the University of Glamorgan, the University of the Arts London, the American Film Institute and the University of Swansea. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and of Merton College, Oxford.
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Nicholas Hytner
Board of Directors of BBC
Nicholas Hytner is a Non-Executive Director of the Executive Board. He joined the Board on 1 April 2014 and has been appointed for an initial term of three years, until 31 March 2017. Nicholas Hytner was Director of the National Theatre 2003- 2015. Under his directorship, the National has brought in a new community of artists, produced in equal measure the classical repertoire and new work, and introduced the Travelex ticket seasons which celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2012 and National Theatre Live cinema broadcasts worldwide. His many productions for the National include The Hard Problem, Great Britain, Othello, People, Timon of Athens, Collaborators, One Man Two Guvnors, Hamlet, London Assurance, The Habit of Art, Phèdre, England People Very Nice, Much Ado About Nothing, Rafta Rafta…, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, His Dark Materials, The History Boys, Stuff Happens, Henry V, The Wind in the Willows, The Madness of George III and Carousel. He also directed Live from the National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage, a gala evening of live performance and glimpses from the archive celebrating the NT’s 50th anniversary, which was seen live on BBC Two and in cinemas around the world. He was educated at Cambridge University and worked widely in repertory theatre, at the Northcott Theatre Exeter, Leeds Playhouse, the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Other London theatre work has included Miss Saigon (also Broadway and worldwide), The Importance of Being Earnest and The Lady in the Van. His film credits include The History Boys, The Madness of King George,The Crucible and the forthcoming The Lady in the Van. Nicholas Hytner’s opera productions include, for the Royal Opera House and Metropolitan Opera, Verdi’s Don Carlo; for English National Opera: Handel’s Xerxes and Mozart’s The Magic Flute; and for Glyndebourne: Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and La Clemenza Di Tito. He has received, in addition to the BAFTA and Evening Standard awards for best British film, many other awards including four Olivier Awards, five Evening Standard Awards, the London Critics’ Circle Award, two NY Drama Desk Awards and two Tony Awards. He was Visiting Professor of Theatre at Oxford University in 2000. He is Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall Cambridge and a member of the Board of the Royal Opera House. He was knighted in 2010.
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About : BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Ciara Riordan
Assistant Editor/ Deputy Director of BBC
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Ciara Riordan
Assistant Editor/ Deputy Director of BBC
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About BBC: BBC is a large-scale broadcasting corporation that offers content to inform, educate, and entertain people.
Hendrik McDermott
SVP & Managing Director HAYU of NBCUniversal
Hendrik McDermott is Senior Vice President, Branded On Demand at NBCUniversal International, based in London. Here he leads an entrepreneurial digital business unit focused on the company’s branded video on-demand (VOD) and over the top (OTT) services, and is primarily responsible for developing and bringing new direct-to-consumer television products to market. In this role, McDermott leads hayu, NBCU’s next generation subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) reality service, which launched in the UK, Ireland and Australia in March 2016. The first all-reality service of its kind – curated and fully integrated with social media – hayu is available on a full array of devices (mobile, tablet, laptop) at www.hayu.com Previously, McDermott led NBCUniversal International Networks’ affiliate sales, managing negotiation and partnership activities with clients and partners across 9 regional offices. He began at NBCUniversal in 2006, when was the founding member of the international corporate development team with responsibility for all territories outside the US and Canada.
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About NBCUniversal: NBCUniversal is an American multinational media conglomerate that is a subsidiary division of Comcast.
Pedro Barros
Director, Corporate Business Development of NBCUniversal
Tech Venture Capital and SMB
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About NBCUniversal: NBCUniversal is an American multinational media conglomerate that is a subsidiary division of Comcast.
Barbara Agus
Director Global Programmatic & Yield of The Weather Channel
Barbara Agus, International Digital Director at Time Inc. International, brings 8+ years experience leading Programmatic, Ad Network, Sales and Operations initiatives with a proven ability to drive rapid growth and expand market share. Agus joined the team from the Weather Channel, where she was Global Programmatic director, and has held prior positions in the ad tech space for Rubicon Project, as well as consultancy roles in Spain and Italy. Her current role includes responsibility for defining the global programmatic strategy of Time Inc. International and uncovering prospects across EMEA, LATAM, and APAC as the company continues to expand its global footprint with innovative, meaningful experiences for business and consumer audiences. Barbara will oversee opportunities across the portfolio for the company’s 90+ brands, as well as continued international development of Time and Fortune.
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About The Weather Channel: The Weather Channel is a news website reporting weather conditions of various locations around the world.
Mike Parton
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Arqiva
Mike brings a wealth of relevant experience from the telecoms and technology industry to Arqiva. Mike started his career as a Chartered Management Accountant, working for a number of UK technology companies including ICL, GEC, STC and Marconi. He moved into General Management in 1995 at Marconi, and became CEO in 2001. Between 2001 and 2006 Mike was CEO of Marconi before overseeing a sale of the company to Ericsson. In 2007, Mike became Chairman of Damovo and joined the Board of Tele2, becoming Chairman there in 2010. Mike stepped down from the Board of Damovo in 2015 following a sale of the company.
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About : Arqiva is a communications infrastructure and media services company.
Keith Frost
Director Of Engineering of Arqiva
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About Arqiva: Arqiva is a communications infrastructure and media services company.
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.
David Padmore
Director of Accessibility of ITV
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About 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.
Simon Gauntlett
Director of Imaging Standards and Technology of Dolby Laboratories
In his role as Technology Director of the DTG, Simon is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic technical vision, supporting DTG Technical Council, Chairing DTG Testing’s Advisory Board, directing the group’s technical programme and managing the DTG’s technology team. Since joining the DTG in 2006, Simon has edited and published an updated version of the D-Book – the technical specification for digital terrestrial television in the UK, and has established working groups for IPTV and the forthcoming HD D-Book. In early 2008 he supported the launch of the UK’s free-to-air satellite platform, Freesat, with a test and conformance project, and is currently working with the Group’s membership to facilitate the introduction of HD on the DTT platform using the new DVB-T2 standard. Prior to working for the DTG, Simon spent seven years at the BBC’s Research and Development (R&D) department, where he specialised in compression technologies for High Definition video and the delivery of HDTV, working on the BBC’s HD trial on the satellite, cable and terrestrial platforms.
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About Dolby Laboratories, SMPTE: Dolby creates surround sound, imaging, and voice technologies for cinemas, home theaters, PCs, mobile devices, games, and more.
Gideon Reeves
Investor & Director of Strategy of PromoMii
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About : A.I. powered video content creation SaaS platform used by the likes of Disney, NENT, VRT and more
Nicholas Marcq
Director of Latimer Group
Founding Director Latimer Films ltd
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About Latimer Group: Latimer works with the best in youth talent to produce cutting edge film and digital media.
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.
Merlin Crossingham
Creative Director of Wallace & Gromit of Aardman Animations
Merlin Crossingham is Creative Director of Wallace & Gromit at Aardman Animations.
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About Aardman Animations: Aardman has a deserved reputation as a world leader in model animation. Peter Lord and David Sproxton began their animating partnership at
Daniel Efergan
Executive Creative Director of Aardman Animations
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About Aardman Animations, MIPCOM: Aardman has a deserved reputation as a world leader in model animation. Peter Lord and David Sproxton began their animating partnership at
Peter Lord
Director of Aardman Animations
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About Aardman Animations: Aardman has a deserved reputation as a world leader in model animation. Peter Lord and David Sproxton began their animating partnership at
Asa Lucander
Animation Director of Aardman Animations
Asa Lucander is Animation Director at Aardman Animations.
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About Aardman Animations: Aardman has a deserved reputation as a world leader in model animation. Peter Lord and David Sproxton began their animating partnership at
Emilio Vacca
Director Mobile Channel of Telegraph Media Group
Emilio, has seen the world of technology changing multiple times over the years. As an expert in the mobile applications arena, he is constantly asking himself “what’s next”. A technology enthusiast, he has spent his 25 year career between design, technology and leadership roles and is an avid early adopter of new technologies. His unique blend of design and technology, developed working many years as a visual and interactive designer, as a software developer and architect for enterprise software and, later on, as a engineer and then manager for mobile applications, provided him unique advantages and vision; allowing him to move quickly between different technologies and sectors, from telecommunications to healthcare, from fashion to media. In the last 5 years Emilio has founded multiple startups in various industries (insurance, real estate, mobile services, social search services) and, as a startups mentor, he is now helping other companies grow.
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About Telegraph Media Group: Telegraph Media Group is a multi-media news publisher behind The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph newspapers.
Christopher Humphrey
Non-Executive Independent Director of Vitec Group
Non-Executive, independent, British, aged 59, appointed to the Board on 1 December 2013; Chairman of the Audit Committee and member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committees. He is also a Non-Executive Director of SDL PLC and AVEVA Group plc. He was formerly Group Chief Executive Officer of Anite plc, holding that position from 2008 until August 2015. Previously he was their Group Finance Director between 2003 and 2008. He has held senior positions in finance at Conoco, Eurotherm International plc and Critchley Group plc. He was previously a non-executive director of Alterian plc between 2011 and 2012. He is a Chartered Management Accountant and a Fellow of CIMA.
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About : Vitec’s purpose is to support the capture and sharing of exceptional images in its chosen Broadcast and Photographic markets.
Martin Green
Group Development & HR Director of Vitec Group
Group Development and HR Director, British, aged 48, appointed June 2005. His responsibilities include strategy and M&A, and were expanded in 2012 to include human resources and internal communications. Previously he held corporate development positions at Bunzl plc, at a broadcast equipment rental business and worked in investment banking at N M Rothschild. He trained and qualified as a solicitor with Linklaters & Alliance in the UK and is a Certified Accountant.
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About Vitec Group, Vitec Group: Vitec’s purpose is to support the capture and sharing of exceptional images in its chosen Broadcast and Photographic markets.
Caroline Thomson
Non-Executive Independent Director of Vitec Group
Non-executive, independent, British, aged 61, appointed to the Board on 1 November 2015; Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Nominations Committees. She is currently Chair of Digital UK, the body which is responsible for digital terrestrial television, a Non-Executive Director of CN media group, a Non-Executive director of NHS Improvement and a Director of London First. She is also a Non-Executive Director of UKGI (formerly the Shareholder Executive) and Chair of its Remuneration Committee. In the arts world she recently retired as Executive Director of English National Ballet, is deputy Chair of the National Gallery and a trustee of Tullie House Gallery in Cumbria. Until September 2012 Caroline was Chief Operating Officer at the BBC, serving twelve years as a member of the Executive Board. As Chief Operating Officer she was the deputy director general and was responsible for all the non-programme parts of the BBC except finance, including the property portfolio and the negotiation of the Royal Charter and two licence fee settlements. Caroline received an honorary doctorate from York University in 2013 and was made an honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria in 2015. She is a member of the council of the University of York and a trustee of The Conversation.
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About : Vitec’s purpose is to support the capture and sharing of exceptional images in its chosen Broadcast and Photographic markets.
Themba Ndlwana
Founding Director of Sports Media Africa
Themba Ndlwana is the Founder and MD of Sports Media Africa (SMA). He has more than a decade of experience in sports rights distribution and commercial exploitation. After obtaining his Msc in Sports Business Management from Birkbeck College (University of London), he joined Optima Sports Management International (OSMi) initially as a content strategist, then a sales executive and ultimately a sponsorship sales and services manager. After his departure from OSMi, he established SMA with a vision for the entity to become an integral part in the development of a mature and sustainable African sports media market. SMA’s mission is to leverage on the tremendous power that is inherently in media, and to utilise its influence for the development of African sports. The company is primary involved with the pan-African distribution of sports rights/content and has a diversity of clients i.e. PayTV, FTA, OTT, TELCOs etc. It has established strong relationships with global content suppliers and rights holders. SMA also works with various African sports federations to assist them enhance their capabilities of commercialising media assets and rights. SMA recognises that the ultimate opportunity in African sports media is in local sports content and programmes. It has now positioned itself to create projects and partnerships to develop and produce world class African sports content. Themba has also co-produced the African Sports TV Market report which is a comprehensive analysis of the industry and is currently working on the next edition of the report.
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About Sports Media Africa: SMA is strategically positioned in the African Sports TV market to be a catalyst between all the major players in the market.
Janis Thomas
Marketing Director of deltatre
Janis joined Deltatre, a global leader in the sport business, at the beginning of 2019. She is an expert in using digital marketing to deliver sales and revenue growth in subscription and ecommerce businesses. She has grown diverse brands from Birchbox to Playboy. She has held senior consumer marketing roles at digital media and entertainment businesses across film, TV and publishing. Janis will be responsible for leading Deltatre’s B2C marketing. This function will help Deltatre’s sport and entertainment clients grow their direct-to-consumer streaming subscription services.
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About deltatre: deltatre is a sports media services company that provides consulting services for videos, webs, graphics, and sports businesses.
Seb Chakraborty
Executive Director (Digital CTO) of Virgin Media
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About Virgin Media: Virgin Media is a UK-based company offering TV, broadband, landline phone and cellular services.
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.
David Crawford
Managing Director of Cellnex Telecom Sau
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About Cellnex Telecom Sau, Evestra Onkologia: Cellnex Telecom Sau is an infrastructure operating company that has expertise in wireless telecommunication business.
James Jackson
Technology Director of Digital UK
James Jackson is the Technology Director of Digital UK where he is responsible for the management of the technology, specifications and systems supporting the UK’s largest free to air television platform. James has extensive experience of developing and managing distribution services. Prior to joining Digital UK in June 2015, James held a range of senior roles within the BBC’s strategy, distribution and technology teams, encompassing commercial and engineering management.
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About Digital UK: Digital UK provides operational support for the platform, including management of the Freeview electronic program guide and more.
Lesley Marr
Director Of Operations of Molinare
Lesley Marr is Director of Operations at Molinare; Molinare is the UK’s leading supplier of post production for episodic drama, feature film, factual and 4K, UHD & HDR productions. Prior to joining Molinare Lesley was COO for Deluxe Media Europe, overseeing the day to day operation delivering to UK Broadcasters and global platforms. During her acreer Lesley has managed transformation programmes, senior client relationships, operational excellence projects developing media logistics, scheduling and MAM tools and managed teams across multi-site UK operations. Lesley has also held several senior management positions in Broadcast Operations at Sky & Technicolor. Her career path, however, started in the creative post production world working as an editor before learning the skills of a VFX artist where she worked for leading global facilities before moving into the world of Operations Management. In addition to her day job Lesley has, for several years, sat on the board of the UK Screen Association and is also a member of the IBC conference committee business stream, chairing and producing conference sessions.
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About Molinare: High-end broadcast and feature post production
Glen Gathard
Creative Director of Molinare
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About Molinare: High-end broadcast and feature post production
Matt Chrisp
Commercial Analytics Director of beIN MEDIA GROUP
Matt joined beIN in February 2016, to launch the Commercial Insights team based in London. He leads a team of insights and analytics executives, seeking out the value that content drives for beIN’s platforms and channels across our international portfolio. Matt’s team is also responsible for valuing entertainment and sports rights for beIN and beIN’s competitors, to contribute to bidding strategy in the various major tender processes that beIN participates in. Matt started his career in New Zealand at KPMG, before taking a 9 month sabbatical to play rugby in London in 2009…which he never made it back from. Since then Matt has held positions at the National Basketball Association, Sony Pictures and A+E Networks during which time he contributed to new ventures across the various elements of the pay-tv ecosystem.Matt has two children, loves to travel, and enjoys triathlons and the odd tennis match.
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About beIN MEDIA GROUP: beIN MEDIA GROUP brings unrivalled sport action and major international events, to dozens of millions of viewers around the world.
Elliot Kaye
Group Finance Director of Gravity Media Group
With an Economics and Econometrics degree from the University of Manchester, Elliot Kaye qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) in 1995 with HW Fisher & Co, a top 20 accounting firm in London and he has extensive experience of audit and corporate finance, with Price Waterhouse and Grant Thornton. Elliot joined Gearhouse Broadcast as Group Financial Controller in 2001, became UK Finance Director in 2005, UK Finance & Operations Director in 2007 and on 1 January 2008 became Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for the finance function of the whole Group.
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About Gravity Media Group: Gravity Media Group is a global provider of live broadcast facilities and production services.
Elliot Kaye
Group Finance Director of Gravity Media Group
With an Economics and Econometrics degree from the University of Manchester, Elliot Kaye qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) in 1995 with HW Fisher & Co, a top 20 accounting firm in London and he has extensive experience of audit and corporate finance, with Price Waterhouse and Grant Thornton. Elliot joined Gearhouse Broadcast as Group Financial Controller in 2001, became UK Finance Director in 2005, UK Finance & Operations Director in 2007 and on 1 January 2008 became Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for the finance function of the whole Group.
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About Gravity Media Group: Gravity Media Group is a global provider of live broadcast facilities and production services.
Marina Storti
Director of Strategy & Proposition of NOW TV
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About NOW TV: Now TV is an internet television service that features latest movies, TV shows, live sports, and more.
Mike Smith
Director of Virgin Media O2
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About Virgin Media O2: Virgin Media O2 is a combination of mobile networks with a broadband network that offers widely available broadband speeds.
Kevin Molloy
Director of Video of Global Radio
Kevin Molloy is the Director of Video for Global, the UK’s biggest commercial radio group. Previous Head of Production & Executive Producer for Inception VR, LoveLive TV and Rockfeedback. With nearly a decade of experience in music, he has directed live concert films for artists such as Rihanna, Madonna, Nick Cave and Muse. He has also created VR experiences for, amongst others, the Dalí Foundation, Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick, an interactive clubbing experience for Google and Boiler Room in Berlin, and immersive city guides for TimeOut in New York and London.
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About Global Radio: UK’s largest commercial radio group
David Johnson
Managing Director of Input Media
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About Input Media: Input Media is delivering broadcast solutions for sports federations, broadcasters and football clubs in the world.
Andrew Sheldon
Creative Director & Founder of True North Productions
ndrew is an award winning journalist and film maker who leads the Documentaries and Current Affairs departments at True North. Having started his career in newspapers, he’s been telling stories that matter ever since. Andrew is constantly breaking new ground, often in the world of the police and crime. His genre-bending Big Sting brand took the best of Candid Camera and Crimewatch, working with police forces to catch up with criminals on the run. His eye for a story often takes him inside the stories that everyone is talking about – like One Man and His Canoe for ITV, which told the story of fraudster John Darwin as the police investigation unfolded. With a reputation for negotiating exclusive access and years of investigative experience, Andrew’s Executive Producer credits include the inside story of the disappearance of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews in Panorama: The Mother of All Lies, the UK’s first ever hand transplant in My New Hand and the expose of the UK’s biggest funeral company in Dispatches: Undercover Undertaker.
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About True North Productions: True North Productions is one of the biggest most dynamic TV production companies in the UK – a beacon for talent in the north of England.
Jess Fowle
Creative Director & Founder of True North Productions
Jess started in television as a TV-am trainee and during her time in ITV’s factual department was behind some of the channel’s highest ever factual ratings with the shocking expose Nannies from Hell. In a twenty-year career in factual television, Jess has made everything from long running, multi-episode features series to immersive one-off docs. At True North Jess leads the Features and Children’s departments – creating returning brands like Building the Dream and Junior Vets and has also been responsible for delivering some of the company’s most talked-about pop docs including Addicted to Surrogacy, My Mums Used to Be Men, The Twins who Share a Body and My Fake Baby. Working collaboratively with contributors, Jess has been at the forefront of forging True North’s reputation for telling sensitive stories with integrity and humanity.
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About True North Productions: True North Productions is one of the biggest most dynamic TV production companies in the UK – a beacon for talent in the north of England.
Jess Fowle
Creative Director & Founder of True North Productions
Jess started in television as a TV-am trainee and during her time in ITV’s factual department was behind some of the channel’s highest ever factual ratings with the shocking expose Nannies from Hell. In a twenty-year career in factual television, Jess has made everything from long running, multi-episode features series to immersive one-off docs. At True North Jess leads the Features and Children’s departments – creating returning brands like Building the Dream and Junior Vets and has also been responsible for delivering some of the company’s most talked-about pop docs including Addicted to Surrogacy, My Mums Used to Be Men, The Twins who Share a Body and My Fake Baby. Working collaboratively with contributors, Jess has been at the forefront of forging True North’s reputation for telling sensitive stories with integrity and humanity.
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About True North Productions: True North Productions is one of the biggest most dynamic TV production companies in the UK – a beacon for talent in the north of England.
Dane Streeter
Managing Director of SharpStream
Dane Streeter is co-founder and Managing Director of SharpStream, one of the worlds leading audio streaming service and technology companies. For over a decade, Dane has provided media enterprises with service for the largest, era-defining audio streaming technologies and is responsible for the delivery of over 15 billion annual hours of digital audio content to over 35 million individuals throughout the world. Dane’s passion for audio streaming came in 2004, at the age of 16, listening to early internet broadcasts of live gigs from popular locations such as Ministry of Sound London, and A State of Trance in Holland.
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About SharpStream: SharpStream is the leading streaming platform for smart streamers…
Mark Mulligan
Managing Director and Analyst of MIDiA Research
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About MIDiA Research: MIDiA Research is a media and technology analysis company that offers consulting and syndicated research services.
Alex Morris
Creative Director of Barcroft Studios
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About Barcroft Studios: Barcroft Studios producing content for global industry publishers, broadcasters, platforms and brands.
Lucie Cave
Editorial Director of Bauer Media
Lucie Cave is an Editorial Director of Bauer Media.
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About Bauer Media: Bauer Media is a publisher of a variety of media, with a focus on magazines.
Chris Kelly
Founder and Managing Director of Z Studios
Chris Kelly is a Co-Founder at Bigballs Media.
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About Z Studios: Z Studios is a creative studio.
Mike Ransome
Managing Director of MCR Broadcast Hire
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About MCR Broadcast Hire: MCR Broadcast Hire provides expertise in providing a complete working solution in the field of broadcasting.
Ryan Nicol
Managing Director of Ceres Productions Ltd
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About Ceres Productions Ltd: A video production company based in London, offering high quality video & event filming services direct to the corporate market.
Marcus Pullen
Business Development Director of Blue Donut Studios
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About Blue Donut Studios: Blue Donut Studios develops stories for AR, VR, animation, TV, Games and Comics.
Lewis Young
Animation Director of Polar Media
Lewis Young joined Polar Media in 2009 to build the animation department alongside the existing film department. Today They make content for brands like BP and CERN, with a specialisation in making emotional content about technology. Making it beautiful, telling the story and engaging an audience, all under one roof in south London. His career began in the games industry as a 3D artist for Microsoft, before working as a CG character animator and environment artist for TV. He now head up polar Media’s VR department, leveraging Their technical knowledge; Their animation/3D capability, Their film background and combining it with Their experience in storytelling to make meaningful experiences for technology brands.
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About Polar Media: They are an animation, film and VFX production company.
Scott Davies
Non Executive Director of NEVER NO
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About NEVER NO: never, a Norway-based company, offers its users with social TV toolkit to create forms of engagement for live and pre-recorded programs.
Mark Toogood
Commercial Director of DMA Media
Mark is DMA Media’s Commercial Director. Before joining the company, he served as CFO at TNCI UK, a company which delivered content to rail and other transport operators. Earlier he was Finance and Commercial VP (EMEAA) at Worldspan, a leading worldwide travel technology company, where he oversaw operations in more than 40 countries. Mark was one of the initial management team tasked with growing the company’s global reach. He has served on the boards of numerous private and publicly listed companies in many countries, covering the media, technology, travel, property and logistics, and has been an integral part of their growth. Mark is responsible for strategic partnerships, the DMA Associates programme, acquisitions, legal and corporate matters.
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About DMA Media: DMA Media is a global media services company, launching, making and managing digital content for broadcast and corporate clients.
Kath Hollister
Director, Human Resources of Red Bee Media
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About Red Bee Media: Ericsson is a website blog that provides users with news updates on technology.
Peter McVerry
Station Manager and Executive Director of U105
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About U105: Radio station in the greater Belfast area.
Adam Minns
Executive Director of Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA)
Adam is Executive Director of the Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA), the industry body for UK multichannel broadcasters and on-demand services. He was previously Director of Policy at Pact, the trade association for UK independent production companies. Prior to Pact, Adam was UK film editor of Screen International, the film business publication. He has written for the Financial Times and The Independent and is the co-author of Tax Funds: A Producer’s Guide.
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About Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA): Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA) is the industry body for digital, cable and satellite broadcasters and on-demand services.
Colin Williams
Managing Director and Founder of Sixteen South
Colin Williams is Managing Director at Sixteen South.
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About Sixteen South: We are dedicated to the development, creation and production of original premium children’s television for national and international
Raquel de Faria Lopes
Marketing Director of Cloudiotv
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About Cloudiotv: Cloudio TV has an OTT infrastructure offering subscriptions to premium content across multiple devices.
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.
Karen Smyth
Managing Director of La Belle Allee Productions
Karen Smyth is Managing Director at La Belle Allee Productions.
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About La Belle Allee Productions: La Belle Allée Productions is one of Scotland’s leading film and television production companies,
