Rob Woodward

Chief Executive, STV

Biography

Rob Woodward was appointed to the Board as Chief Executive in 2007. Prior to this he was a senior advisor to LongAcre Partners, Europe’s leading independent mid-market corporate finance house focusing on the media and internet sectors. Until 2005 Rob served as Commercial Director of Channel 4 Television. He was an executive member of the Channel 4 Corporation Board and responsible for Channel 4’s commercial wellbeing. Included in his responsibilities was the management of the portfolio of commercial businesses in 4 Ventures. These businesses included digital channels such as E4 and Film Four, New Media Services and Rights Exploitation. During his tenure, Rob developed and executed a commercial strategy for Channel 4, which has positioned the Corporation at the forefront of digital media. He transformed the performance of Channel 4’s commercial businesses from heavily loss making to significant profitability.

Prior to joining Channel 4, Rob was a Managing Director at UBS Corporate Finance where he worked in both London and New York. Before this, Rob was the Managing Partner of Braxton UK, the strategy consulting practice of Deloitte. He also led Deloitte Consulting’s European TMT group. He has specialised in advising TMT companies on strategic and corporate finance issues for the past 20 years.

He is a non-executive director of RaceTech Holdings, a Council Member of the National Youth Theatre, the Deputy pro Chancellor of City University and a Trustee of NESTA.

He has a BSc Hons from Durham University and an MBA from Edinburgh University.

 

Caroline Thomson

Chief Operating Officer, BBC

Biography

Caroline Thomson is the Chief Operating Officer of the BBC. She is a member of the BBC’s Executive Board and reports to the Director-General.

Caroline has responsibility for the BBC’s Policy and Strategy, Legal, Distribution and Business Continuity functions and for all of the BBC’s property plans. As a result she is the Executive Director accountable for the BBC’s major infrastructure projects: digital switchover, the move to Salford and the development of the BBC’s two main sites in central and west London. Caroline was also responsible for leading the BBC’s bid for a successful review of its Charter and negotiating the licence fee settlement. She manages the BBC's main policies in regulatory and compliance areas and freedom of information as well as the BBC's legal affairs and government Relations. Caroline has responsibility for strategic analysis and planning and for the distribution of BBC services and is particularly involved in the development of the BBC’s digital strategy.

Caroline began her career in broadcasting 30 years ago, joining the BBC as a journalist trainee and going on to produce a range of BBC radio and television series including BBC Radio 4’s Analysis and BBC One’s Panorama. She left the BBC to work as political assistant to Roy Jenkins, then the leader of the SDP, during the 1983 General Election campaign.

In 1984, Caroline joined Channel 4 Television as Commissioning Editor, Science, Finance and Industry and went on to start Business Daily and the Equinox series. She was subsequently appointed Head of Corporate Affairs, reporting to the Chief Executive, Michael Grade.

Caroline rejoined the BBC in 1996 as Deputy Director of the BBC World Service. Then, in July 2000, she became the Director of Policy and Legal, before her role was expanded to incorporate Strategy and then further expanded when she became Chief Operating Officer in 2006.

 

Mike Darcey

Chief Operating Officer, BSkyB

Biography

Mike Darcey is Chief Operating Officer at BSkyB. Mike joined Sky in 1998 to establish and run Sky's Strategic Planning Group, becoming a member of Sky's Executive Board in 2002.

As COO, Mike continues his overall responsibility for group strategy but also looks after the following areas: television and online advertising sales; procurement of content from third party channel providers; syndication of Sky content to non satellite platforms; on-demand services; games; Sky's investments in joint venture channel partnerships; business development; and Sky's commercial online activities. He is on the board of National Geographic Channel UK and Nickelodeon UK.

Prior to joining Sky, Mike was an economic consultant with Lexecon, specialising in regulatory and competition law disputes, especially in the media and telecoms sectors. Mike has post-graduate degrees in Mathematics (from New Zealand) and Economics (LSE), is married with two children, and is a keen skier as well as occasional golfer, snow-boarder and surfer.

 

Sue Robertson

Director of Corporate Affairs, FIVE

Biography

Sue Robertson has been Director of Corporate Affairs at Five since January 2001. Prior to this she was Director of Corporate Affairs at United Broadcasting and Entertainment (1999 - 2000) and Head of Corporate Affairs at Channel Four (1995 -1999). She worked at the BBC (1987 - 1995) initially in production on Panorama, Question Time and Newsnight and then as a manager within Political Programmes.

Before starting her TV career, she worked as secretary to the SDP parliamentary committee and as press secretary to the Rt Hon Dr David Owen MP. She is a fellow of the Royal Television Society and was Vice Chairman of the RTS 2002 -2005.

 

Seamus O’Sullivan

Chief Consultant - Information, Media and Entertainment, Cognizant

Biography

Seamus O'Sullivan is Chief Consultant - Information, Media and Entertainment for Cognizant. He has 15 years experience of the Broadcasting, Online, Mobile and Music Industries with companies such as the BBC, Channel 4, Vodafone, Orange, Virgin Media, AOL, Cap Gemini and Siemens. Seamus has worked extensively across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and his specialities include DAM, DRM, IPTV and multi-platform Audio / Video distribution as well as all areas of Broadcast technology. His current interests are TV Search, Social Networks, Mobile Applications and Advertising. He currently lives in London.

Caroline Thomson

Chief Operating Officer, BBC

Biography

Caroline Thomson is the Chief Operating Officer of the BBC. She is a member of the BBC’s Executive Board and reports to the Director-General.

Caroline has responsibility for the BBC’s Policy and Strategy, Legal, Distribution and Business Continuity functions and for all of the BBC’s property plans. As a result she is the Executive Director accountable for the BBC’s major infrastructure projects: digital switchover, the move to Salford and the development of the BBC’s two main sites in central and west London. Caroline was also responsible for leading the BBC’s bid for a successful review of its Charter and negotiating the licence fee settlement. She manages the BBC's main policies in regulatory and compliance areas and freedom of information as well as the BBC's legal affairs and government Relations. Caroline has responsibility for strategic analysis and planning and for the distribution of BBC services and is particularly involved in the development of the BBC’s digital strategy.

Caroline began her career in broadcasting 30 years ago, joining the BBC as a journalist trainee and going on to produce a range of BBC radio and television series including BBC Radio 4’s Analysis and BBC One’s Panorama. She left the BBC to work as political assistant to Roy Jenkins, then the leader of the SDP, during the 1983 General Election campaign.

In 1984, Caroline joined Channel 4 Television as Commissioning Editor, Science, Finance and Industry and went on to start Business Daily and the Equinox series. She was subsequently appointed Head of Corporate Affairs, reporting to the Chief Executive, Michael Grade.

Caroline rejoined the BBC in 1996 as Deputy Director of the BBC World Service. Then, in July 2000, she became the Director of Policy and Legal, before her role was expanded to incorporate Strategy and then further expanded when she became Chief Operating Officer in 2006.

 

Mike Darcey

Chief Operating Officer, BSkyB

Biography

Mike Darcey is Chief Operating Officer at BSkyB. Mike joined Sky in 1998 to establish and run Sky's Strategic Planning Group, becoming a member of Sky's Executive Board in 2002.

As COO, Mike continues his overall responsibility for group strategy but also looks after the following areas: television and online advertising sales; procurement of content from third party channel providers; syndication of Sky content to non satellite platforms; on-demand services; games; Sky's investments in joint venture channel partnerships; business development; and Sky's commercial online activities. He is on the board of National Geographic Channel UK and Nickelodeon UK.

Prior to joining Sky, Mike was an economic consultant with Lexecon, specialising in regulatory and competition law disputes, especially in the media and telecoms sectors. Mike has post-graduate degrees in Mathematics (from New Zealand) and Economics (LSE), is married with two children, and is a keen skier as well as occasional golfer, snow-boarder and surfer.

 

Seamus O’Sullivan

Chief Consultant - Information, Media and Entertainment, Cognizant

Biography

Seamus O'Sullivan is Chief Consultant - Information, Media and Entertainment for Cognizant. He has 15 years experience of the Broadcasting, Online, Mobile and Music Industries with companies such as the BBC, Channel 4, Vodafone, Orange, Virgin Media, AOL, Cap Gemini and Siemens. Seamus has worked extensively across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and his specialities include DAM, DRM, IPTV and multi-platform Audio / Video distribution as well as all areas of Broadcast technology. His current interests are TV Search, Social Networks, Mobile Applications and Advertising. He currently lives in London.

Ed Richards

Chief Executive, Ofcom

Biography

Ofcom role:

Ed Richards is the Chief Executive of Ofcom, appointed in October 2006.

Previously Ed was Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Strategy, Market Research, Finance, HR and other functions.

Strategy responsibilities included Ofcom’s strategic thinking on the communications sector and covering economic issues and consumer policy.

Ed was previously Senior Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister (Tony Blair) for Media, telecoms, the internet and e govt and Controller of Corporate Strategy at the BBC.

He has also worked in consulting at London Economics Ltd, as an advisor to Gordon Brown MP and began his career as a researcher with Diverse Production Ltd where he worked on programmes for Channel 4.

Ed is also a Director of Donmar Warehouse and a Director of The Teaching Awards Trust and a member of the Centre for Economic Performance Policy Committee at the London School of Economics.

Ray Snoddy

Freelance Media Journalist

Biography

Raymond Snoddy is a freelance journalist who presents the BBC Television accountability programme Newswatch and writes regularly for a variety of publications after being media editor of The Times for seven years.

Before moving to The Times he was a reporter on the Financial Times for 19 years writing mainly about media and communication issues. Presented television series on the media, Hard News on Channel 4 and Media Monthly on Sky News and has made documentaries for radio and television. Regular columns include Marketing, Media & Marketing and CityAM Books include The Good, The Bad and the Unacceptable on press standards and Greenfinger on Michael Green and Carlton Communications.

Born 31/1/46 in Larne Co Antrim, Educated Queens University Belfast and the Open University. Married with two grown up children, both working in the media. Interests include chess, opera and supporting Queens Park Rangers.

 

 

Paul Richards

Director of Media Research, Numis Securities

Biography

Paul Richards has worked in the City as a Media Analyst for the past fifteen years. He started his career in 1993 at S.G. Warburg (now part of UBS), before moving to Panmure Gordon in 1995 and subsequently to Numis in 2001. The Numis Media Research team is the longest serving Media Team (with a combined 60 years experience) and has been been consistently voted in the top three in one or more of all the major surveys (Reuters, Extel and Institutional Investor) since 1987. The team regard their unique selling point as seamless coverage of the UK media sector, applying the same rigorous approach and analysis to a small or mid-cap media company as to a FTSE 100 constituent.

Toby Syfret

Analyst, Enders Analysis

Biography

Dr Toby Syfret heads up TV broadcast analysis at Enders Analysis, with over 25 years of experience in monitoring TV trends in the UK and other countries round the world, including ten years in the advertising industry as specialist in new media developments across Europe. He is an acknowledged international expert in television audience measurement and author of two editions of Television Peoplemeters in Europe, as well as keen follower and forecaster of long-term trends in advertising-supported and pay television. His work is primarily focused on the UK, but also covers other leading European national TV markets.

Tess Alps

Chief Executive, Thinkbox

Biography

Tess became the first Chief Executive of Thinkbox, the central marketing body for commercial TV, in July 2006. Her mission is to help advertisers get the best out of TV, in all its forms, prove its increasing effectiveness, and help brands navigate the emerging TV platforms which are contributing to TV’s expansion.

Immediately prior to this she worked at PHD for thirteen years, becoming Group Chairman in 2003. Her early career was in TV sales, where she ended up as an ITV sales director before joining PHD.

She is a past President of WACL, Fellow of the Marketing Society, trustee of NABS and a member of the MGGB. She sits on advisory boards for the Advertising Standards Authority and BBC magazines. She is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and a member of BAFTA. In 2007 she won the Outstanding Achievement award from Women in Film and Television.

In her spare time, apart from watching lots of telly, she trampolines (tentatively), sings Tallis, grows tomatoes, Twitters and is regularly thrashed at table tennis by Tim and Tom.

Richard Eyre

Non-Executive Director, Starcom MediaVest Group UK

Biography

Born May 1954. Married for 32 years with 2 married kids, aged 29 and 27.

Education: Kings College School, Wimbledon
Oxford University, Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Harvard Business School, Advanced Management Program (1993)

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

1975-2001 Executive roles

Benton and Bowles 75-84: Graduate trainee to Head of Media Planning
Aspect Advertising 84-86: Media Director

Bartle Bogle Hegarty 86-91: First Media Director; built the media department from scratch to billings of c£100m with a media reputation to match one of the most creative agencies in the world.

Capital Radio plc 91-97: Chief Executive; led industry lobby to change the ownership rules and acquired radio companies outside London. Played a role in building the industry’s revenue share from under 2% to over 5%

ITV Network Ltd 97-2000: Chief Executive; tackled a demotivated and declining network. Published aggressive audience targets and built a new network team to achieve them.

Pearson Television 2000-1: Chief Executive; cancelled Baywatch and midwifed the creation of Pop Idol one of the most successful TV formats in the world.

Merged into RTL plc 2001: Director of Strategy and Content. Miserable

Since 2001 Non-Executive roles

Chairman of the Internet Advertising Bureau, a joint venture between all the major online companies.

Director of The Eden Project (2003-9). Chair from October 2009.

Chairman of Rapid Mobile, a specialist in mobile phone advertising

Director of MGt, Customer management services

Director of Results International LLP, M&A advisors

Co-founder and Chairman of Atlantic FM, a Cornish radio station

Co-founder and Chairman of Bess Media LLP, a new social/search application

Senior Independent Advisor to Starcom Mediavest Group UK, a media agency.

I write a fortnightly column for Media Week

I sat on the Phillis Committee advising the DCMS in the run-up to the 2003 Communications Act; contributed to Ofcom’s Public Service Broadcasting review; and advised Camelot on its successful re-application for the lottery franchise.

Chairman of RDF Media plc, the independent TV producer for 8 years, through flotation and subsequent sale in February 09. Now RDF’s Compliance Ombudsman. I spent three years working with 19 Management (creator of Pop Idol, Spice Girls etc) on a new media/music idea; three years on the board of the Guardian Media Group and five years on the board of Digital Bridges, a mobile games publisher, becoming Chairman when it rebranded as I-Play. In 2007 I joined the board of GCap Media plc, the UK’s largest radio group, becoming Chairman in November, managing its sale in June 2008.

Leisure

My favourite leisure occupations are music, cooking, writing and travel. I have written a novel which was published by Penguin in 2005. In 2004 I walked to the North Pole and am planning a trip to the South Pole in December 2010.

Richard Eyre
October 2009

 

Patrick Walker

Director, Video Partnerships EMEA, YouTube

Biography

Patrick Walker leads the development of content strategy and partnerships for YouTube in Northern and Central Europe.

At YouTube, Patrick leads the team responsible for agreeing partnerships with European media companies, from the BBC to RAI and ZDF, as well as helping major institutions establish their presence on YouTube, including the Vatican, the British Monarchy and governments across Europe. Most recently, Patrick’s team struck YouTube’s first-ever commercial partnerships for full length catch-up programming, with British broadcasters Channel 4 and Five uploading their shows immediately after TV transmission.

As well as establishing commercial relationships, Patrick has also acted as lead evangelist for YouTube's Content ID copyright tools, which are now being used by hundreds of rightsholders in Europe to control the use of their material on the site.

Patrick has over 15 years of experience in the television, radio and online media industry, including his tenure as General Manager of International Video Services for RealNetworks, where he was instrumental in launching Real's first premium audio and video services in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Patrick began his career in international media and technology as a TV producer for Japan's public broadcaster, NHK. He later joined BBC News as a Senior Broadcast Journalist in Japan and South East Asia. Returning to London in 2000, Patrick accepted a role with TWI's management team to launch one of the earliest 'converged' web and TV services.

Patrick holds a Master's degree in International Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California. He also studied at Keio University in Tokyo and the University of Paris.

 

David Graham

Chief Executive Officer, Attentional

Biography

David formed David Graham & Associates (DGA) in 1990 to develop data and research services for independent TV and film producers in the UK. The company became Attentional Ltd in 2007.

David’s career in broadcasting began in Toronto, Canada and continued at the BBC, where David was a producer in the Current Affairs department of BBC Network Television. In 1980, David founded Diverse Production Limited, an independent production company, which supplied current affairs programmes to Channel Four.

David was educated at the Universities of Bristol and Indiana. He is a member of The Royal Television Society and has been awarded a medal for Outstanding Services to Television.

David Graham sits on the board of Attentional Ltd. and Attention Inc.

 

Steve Hewlett

Media Commentator

Biography

Steve Hewlett is currently a Guardian Columnist and broadcasting consultant whose clients have included Tiger Aspect, the Guardian Media Group, Ofcom, DCMS, Channel 4, BSkyB and New South Wales FTO. He also runs Big Pictures Ltd, a television production Company with commissions from Channel 4, the BBC and the PBS Network in the USA. He is visiting Professor of Journalism and Broadcast policy at Salford University He is also a regular contributor to and presenter of programmes on Radio 4 and Five Live and now presents Radio 4’s weekly Media Show

Steve started as a researcher on BBC Nationwide in 1981 before going on to produce a number of series for Channel 4 in the mid-eighties, including The Friday Alternative and Diverse Reports. In 1987 he began working on factual programmes at the BBC and in 1990 he became producer and then Editor of BBC One documentary strand Inside Story. From 1995 to 1997, Steve was editor of Current Affairs flagship Panorama and Executive Editor of Special Projects. He was Executive Producer of the first two series of Children’s Hospital as well as The Skipper, Rough Justice, States of Terror and The Diamond Empire.

Steve took over as Director of Programmes, Carlton Television, in September 1998, having previously been Head of Factual Programmes and Features at Channel 4. He became Managing Director of Carlton Productions in January 2001 with responsibility for Carlton TV Productions, Planet 24 and Action Time. He left ITV at the time of the Granada/Carlton merger in 2003.

He is the Chair of DocFest – the Sheffield International Documentary festival, a board member at Screen Yorkshire and a fellow of the Royal Television Society.

 

Richard Halton

IPTV Programme Director, BBC

Biography

As Programme Director IPTV for the BBC, Richard is responsible for Project Canvas, the proposal to bring internet connectivity to the UK’s free to air platforms. The plans were shared as part of the BBC’s PSB Partnership announcements in December 2008 and are under consideration by the BBC Trust.

Prior to this, Richard was Controller, Business Strategy (2006-08), co-led Creative Future, the BBC’s editorial strategy (2005-06) and was Controller Television Strategy (2003-05).

Through these different roles Richard has been instrumental in shaping the BBC’s response to the changing audience, competitive and technology environment, led the development of a number of the BBC’s existing services and led teams responsible for many of the BBC’s existing commercial and policy frameworks.

He joined the BBC from Andersen Consulting in 1999.

 

Richard Halton

IPTV Programme Director, BBC

Biography

As Programme Director IPTV for the BBC, Richard is responsible for Project Canvas, the proposal to bring internet connectivity to the UK’s free to air platforms. The plans were shared as part of the BBC’s PSB Partnership announcements in December 2008 and are under consideration by the BBC Trust.

Prior to this, Richard was Controller, Business Strategy (2006-08), co-led Creative Future, the BBC’s editorial strategy (2005-06) and was Controller Television Strategy (2003-05).

Through these different roles Richard has been instrumental in shaping the BBC’s response to the changing audience, competitive and technology environment, led the development of a number of the BBC’s existing services and led teams responsible for many of the BBC’s existing commercial and policy frameworks.

He joined the BBC from Andersen Consulting in 1999.

 

Max Alexander

Senior Director, TV, Talk Talk

Biography

Currently responsible for TV, Portal and general commercial development at TalkTalk.

Max joined as Director of Television in October 2009, having previously worked at Trinity Mirror as MD for Strategy and Innovation.

Previous engagements also include The Carphone Warehouse – where Max was the first MD of TalkTalk and also for Sky TV in business development and as Director of Internet Distribution.

 

Peter Flamman

Senior Vice President, General Manager Northern Europe, Turner Broadcasting

Biography

Peter Flamman is Senior Vice President, General Manager Northern Europe at Turner Broadcasting based in Turner House, London.

Pete has full responsibility for Turner’s entertainment channels in the following markets: the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, German-speaking (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Nordic and Benelux. In addition, Pete has distribution responsibility for CNN International in the same markets and operational responsibility for Turner’s pan-EMEA entertainment feeds.

Pete played a key role in the growth of Turner during his time as Vice President, Business Development working and collaborating with local teams on new business initiatives and channel launches. Pete’s first ever project at Turner was the launch of Boomerang UK in May 2000. Other highlights include the launch of Boing on Italian DTT and the recent roll out of TNT in Spain, Turkey and Germany.

Since becoming General Manager Northern Europe, Pete has led projects to expand the local presence of Turner in many emerging markets, establishing new local offices in Moscow, Warsaw, Budapest and Bucharest. The UK was added to his portfolio of responsibilities in February 2010.

Pete joined Turner Broadcasting in March 2000 after four years as a Strategy Consultant with Spectrum, a boutique consultancy specialising in advising companies and investors in Media, Telecoms and the Convergent industries.

Pete holds an MA Hons in History from Cambridge University.

 

Peter Flamman

Senior Vice President, General Manager Northern Europe, Turner Broadcasting

Biography

Peter Flamman is Senior Vice President, General Manager Northern Europe at Turner Broadcasting based in Turner House, London.

Pete has full responsibility for Turner’s entertainment channels in the following markets: the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, German-speaking (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Nordic and Benelux. In addition, Pete has distribution responsibility for CNN International in the same markets and operational responsibility for Turner’s pan-EMEA entertainment feeds.

Pete played a key role in the growth of Turner during his time as Vice President, Business Development working and collaborating with local teams on new business initiatives and channel launches. Pete’s first ever project at Turner was the launch of Boomerang UK in May 2000. Other highlights include the launch of Boing on Italian DTT and the recent roll out of TNT in Spain, Turkey and Germany.

Since becoming General Manager Northern Europe, Pete has led projects to expand the local presence of Turner in many emerging markets, establishing new local offices in Moscow, Warsaw, Budapest and Bucharest. The UK was added to his portfolio of responsibilities in February 2010.

Pete joined Turner Broadcasting in March 2000 after four years as a Strategy Consultant with Spectrum, a boutique consultancy specialising in advising companies and investors in Media, Telecoms and the Convergent industries.

Pete holds an MA Hons in History from Cambridge University.

 

Mark Selby

Vice-President Industry Collaborations, Nokia

Biography

Mark Selby has responsibility for Nokia’s relationships with external industry, academic, regulatory and citizen organisations in building the ecosystems for next generation mobile applications, services and technologies. A recognized authority on mobility, emerging technologies and convergence, he has worked in the mobile, broadcast and IT industries for over 20 years.

Mark was formerly Vice President, Multimedia, with global responsibility for Nokia’s multimedia experience operations, including Mobile TV, Radio, imaging, audio, video, and Social Media and Networks implementations.

Prior to joining Nokia in May 2004, he was Senior Vice President at IMG Media/TWI, responsible for the group’s mobile activities in sports, entertainment, TV, radio and online, including production, rights and technology. IMG Media/TWI is the largest independent sports TV producer.

Mark was formerly CEO of Mobile Channel Network, which designed, produced and delivered a wide range of mobile services, including Essential Sports, MTV mobile, Big Brother and Mobile Ibiza. He has worked with many rights holders, including Manchester United and Liverpool Football Clubs, the International Rugby Board, the International Olympic Committee, musicians, athletes and models.

Mark’s previous roles include President of Solid Information Technology, Executive Director Health On the Net Foundation, President Internet Society, Geneva, radio producer and presenter at WRS-FM, board member of Linux International.

 

Philip O'Ferrall

Global SVP of Digital Media, MTV Networks International

Biography

Reporting to Robert Bakish, President of MTV Networks International, and Heather Jones, EVP, Director of Television MTV Networks UK & Ireland and MTV Networks Australia and New Zealand, O'Ferrall is responsible for MTVNI’s Digital media business for all multi platform properties. This includes the creation of world class content based on MTVNI’s portfolio of global hit franchises, building technology platforms, and forming strategic partnerships with major industry players in the digital arena, including new ventures, affiliate relationships, and mobile.

O’Ferrall is also responsible for creating and implementing all of MTV’s digital media strategy in the UK, Ireland and Australia, Zealand, for online, interactive TV and mobile, across the company’s 20 channel portfolio, and is involved in creating 360-degree TV commissions for new programming.

In 2007 O’Ferrall launched Spanking New Sessions, a platform for new up and coming artists. Sessions has been a huge success, with acts going on to international fame including Lady Gaga, La Roux, and Florence and the Machine.

O’Ferrall is also responsible for Nickelodeon and Comedy Central digital activity.

Before MTV, O’Ferrall was Executive Director at Twofour Group, where he was responsible for online, mobile and interactive strategy across the entire Twofour Group output. Prior to TwoFour, O’Ferrall launched the world’s first mobile video portal, Mobile Media Club, and the world’s first music video to a mass market mobile phone, whilst at Nokia Ventures/Oplayo Mobile Video.

O’Ferrall also enjoys an active role in both the Royal Television Society and BAFTA.

 

Bjarne Thelin

Chief Executive, BARB

Biography

Bjarne Thelin is Chief Executive of BARB, the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board, which is the UK's industry standard television audience measurement service.

Having successfully implemented a new panel to deliver the BARB service from the beginning of January 2010, the agenda now moves more future facing to test and trial means of reporting content from pcs/ laptops and pilot how different forms of content can best be reported.

Prior to 2004, Bjarne was Planning Director at Carlton Media Sales, with responsibility for the company's sales planning and research functions, having joined in 1994.

 

 

Michael Comish

Chief Executive, Blinkbox

Biography

Michael Comish is the CEO and co-founder of blinkbox.com, the largest independent video-on-demand service for blockbuster movies and TV series in the UK.

Michael played a central role in building the pioneering online-video company AtomFilms, which he co-founded in 1998. As its President of International Operations, Michael helped Atom grow revenues to $25m, successfully merge with Shockwave.com and attracted a global audience of more than 15 million users per month. The company was sold to Viacom for $200m in 2006.

Michael then went to Channel 4 where he was the Managing Director of 4 Services; a role which included running New Media, the Studio and Post Businesses, 4 Creative and Corporate Development.

The early part of his career was spent at Braxton Associates and later as partner at Mercer Management Consulting, where he advised media clients in Europe and the US.

Michael graduated from The University of Western Ontario and later earned an MBA from INSEAD in France.

 

John Keeling

Platform Controller, SeeSaw

Biography

John Keeling was appointed to the role of Platform Controller for SeeSaw, the online TV service in September 2009. He is responsible for overseeing all Programming and Marketing functions including brand development and content supply. SeeSaw went live to the public in February 2010.

Keeling was chief operating officer at the BBC/Virgin joint venture UKTV from 2001 to 2007, where he sat on the boards of both UKTV and BBC Vision. During this period he became a passionate advocate of professional development and change management, leaving the BBC in 2007 in order to further develop this area through training and qualifying as an executive coach. He was subsequently brought in by ITV, BSkyB, Discovery Networks and the BBC to strategise, devise and implement executive level organisational and personal development programmes.‬‪‬‪

Prior to his role at UKTV John Keeling was behind the launch and on-going management of the Disney Channel in 1995 and the FilmFour channel in 1998. He began his broadcasting career with the launch of MTV Europe in 1987 followed by a six-year stint at Sky where he was responsible for the movie channels throughout the early 1990s.‬‪‬‪

 

Steve Hewlett

Media Commentator

Biography

Steve Hewlett is currently a Guardian Columnist and broadcasting consultant whose clients have included Tiger Aspect, the Guardian Media Group, Ofcom, DCMS, Channel 4, BSkyB and New South Wales FTO. He also runs Big Pictures Ltd, a television production Company with commissions from Channel 4, the BBC and the PBS Network in the USA. He is visiting Professor of Journalism and Broadcast policy at Salford University He is also a regular contributor to and presenter of programmes on Radio 4 and Five Live and now presents Radio 4’s weekly Media Show

Steve started as a researcher on BBC Nationwide in 1981 before going on to produce a number of series for Channel 4 in the mid-eighties, including The Friday Alternative and Diverse Reports. In 1987 he began working on factual programmes at the BBC and in 1990 he became producer and then Editor of BBC One documentary strand Inside Story. From 1995 to 1997, Steve was editor of Current Affairs flagship Panorama and Executive Editor of Special Projects. He was Executive Producer of the first two series of Children’s Hospital as well as The Skipper, Rough Justice, States of Terror and The Diamond Empire.

Steve took over as Director of Programmes, Carlton Television, in September 1998, having previously been Head of Factual Programmes and Features at Channel 4. He became Managing Director of Carlton Productions in January 2001 with responsibility for Carlton TV Productions, Planet 24 and Action Time. He left ITV at the time of the Granada/Carlton merger in 2003.

He is the Chair of DocFest – the Sheffield International Documentary festival, a board member at Screen Yorkshire and a fellow of the Royal Television Society.