Tim Sewell has been the CEO of Yospace since 2002, transforming the company from a provider of user-generated content platforms for mobile — pre-dating YouTube — to the world’s leading provider of dynamic ad insertion (DAI) technology.

Sewell’s work helped establish Yospace as a first-to-market leader, a milestone that significantly influenced the advertising methods used in the VOD and OTT sectors. This breakthrough innovation has been widely adopted by top-tier broadcasters globally and, under his leadership, propelled Yospace to a successful acquisition by RTL Group in 2019.

Yospace has worked in close collaboration with leading UK broadcasters including Channel 4, ITV, and STV for over a decade as they, and Yospace, have moved ad-funded streaming forward through constant innovation.

Over the last 12 months alone, Yospace has been actively involved in developing new standards to support the next generation of DAI. Server-guided ad insertion (SGAI), along with client-guided ad measurement (CGAM) which addresses the challenge of delivering trusted frame accurate ad measurement on the hardest-to-reach devices, bringing improved transparency to CTV.

Beyond the UK, Yospace also has long-term relationships with innovative broadcasters across the world, from TV4, Telia, TV2 Denmark, TV2 Norway, Allente, M6, RTL, in mainland Europe; Nine, Seven, and Optus in Australia; DIRECTV, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery in the USA.

Hendrik McDermott is MD, Hayu, EMEA Networks & International Direct-To-Consumer, NBCUniversal, based in London. A core member of the International Networks & DTC leadership team, he is focused on leading Hayu and expanding NBCU’s streaming business (Peacock, Universal+) outside the US; he also leads the television Networks’ business in Europe, Middle East & Africa, collaborating closely with regional leaders in Latin America and Asia Pacific. 

Most recently MD, DTC, Global and previously, MD, Hayu, McDermott continues helming these entrepreneurial digital businesses. NBCU’s all-reality video streaming service has grown rapidly under his leadership, now available in 45 markets, having first launched in Australia, Ireland and the UK in March 2016. McDermott led the launch and expansion of the streamer that has since rolled out in 45 territories including the Nordics, Canada, Benelux, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore, Austria and Germany, across Eastern and Western Europe and, most recently, New Zealand. 

Before his direct-to-consumer leadership position, McDermott led the global distribution and sales organisation for the NBCU International Networks group. Immediately prior, McDermott was MD, KidsCo, the global children’s television joint venture owned by NBCUniversal and Corus Entertainment.  

McDermott began working at NBCU in 2006 where he spent six years as the founding member of the international corporate development team with responsibility for mergers & acquisitions and strategy for all territories outside the US and Canada. 

Katherine Wen is a senior media and technology executive with a strong track record in platform strategy, commercial development, and content partnerships. At Sky, she serves as Director of Commercial Strategy and Development, where she is responsible for shaping global B2B initiatives and driving the monetisation of Sky and Comcast’s TV and broadband products. Her recent work includes expanding streaming partnerships and delivering platform innovation across European markets.

Before joining Sky, Wen held senior roles at ITV for over ten years, where she was closely involved in developing the company’s pay-TV strategy and international growth. She also played a key role in ITV’s investments in major UK platform ventures such as Freeview and YouView.

Alongside her executive career, Wen is active in the start-up ecosystem as an angel investor and adviser, particularly in advertising and media technology. She holds an Economics degree from Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School.

Sarah Milton appeared in the very first 50 VOD Professionals list back in 2012 – and she’s still just as influential today!

Together with Joint Chief Product Officer Carl Pfeiffer, Milton sets the strategy and direction for Everyone TV’s customer-facing propositions, including Freeview, Freesat and the streaming platform Freely, which launched in 2024. They lead the Product and Operations teams and ensure that Everyone TV brings the best possible free-to-air TV experience to viewers while delivering value for content providers and other partners. 

Before joining Everyone TV, Milton worked at Channel 4 for over 15 years. During this time, she was at the forefront of its digital transformation, as one of the original team that developed and launched its ground-breaking video-on-demand service, 4oD – and more recently, as Head of Product, responsible for the functionality and UX of All 4 across all platforms and devices.

Milton has also worked in business development and strategy at ITV, and at internet start-up Webrewards. She began her career at the management consulting firm McKinsey.

In her last role as GVP, Head of Advertising and Partnerships at Warner Bros. Discovery, UK & Ireland, Katie Coteman was responsible for managing ad sales and partnerships for D2C, linear networks, YT and Social across WBD’s SVOD service discovery+ and over 15 channels brands incl. Discovery Channel, TNT Sports, Quest, TLC and Cartoon Network.

Joining in 2011, Coteman oversaw significant change including the launch of multiple new channels, the integration of Eurosport in 2015, Scripps channels Really and HGTV in 2018, and the Warner Media Kids channels in early 2022.  Back in 2018 Coteman also played a pivotal role in the launch of Discovery’s free streaming product Quest OD.

In 2022, Coteman and her team introduced an Ad Lite offering for discovery+ in the UK and Ireland – the first Ad Supported SVOD product in the UK.  Most recently the team integrated TNT Sports making discovery+ the fastest growing SVOD in the UK in the first six months of 2024.

Later this year, Coteman is moving to Paramount to become SVP, International Ad Sales, a new role created following the international roll out of Paramount+ ad tiers and Paramount’s decision to move sales for UK sponsorships across all platforms including Paramount+ and 5 linear and streaming inhouse.

Joe Harbinson is a seasoned leader in digital and social media strategy, currently heading up Channel 4’s relationships with major social platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Meta, and Snap. With a proven track record of driving high-impact partnerships, Harbinson has successfully brought full Channel 4 episodes back to YouTube and established 4Sales’ first ‘social sales’ team, significantly enhancing the channel’s digital footprint.

Previously, Harbinson co-founded and led the Group Digital team at Endemol Shine Group. This team was instrumental in creating a network of social-first channels and revitalising globally recognised brands such as Mr Bean, MasterChef, and Big Brother on YouTube & Facebook. These efforts laid the groundwork for what has become Banijay’s thriving Social Video Network.

His career began in the music industry, where he worked at EMI Music, identifying and collaborating with (then) emerging platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. His role focused on protecting, promoting, and delivering content from EMI’s extensive artist roster, which included iconic names like Katy Perry, Coldplay, and The Beatles. He later transitioned to Rightster (now Brave Bison), where he led YouTube operations for a vast network of over 2,000 channels.

Harbinson’s expertise lies in bridging traditional media with the evolving digital landscape, ensuring that brands, broadcasters, publishers, and media companies not only stay relevant but thrive in the ever-evolving Digital/ Social Media environment.

Anna Mallett is Vice President of Production at Netflix, responsible for leading production operations across the UK and EMEA. Since joining the company in April 2021, she has overseen teams spanning Production Management, Post Production, VFX, Music, Production Technology, and Safety—supporting the creation of Netflix content across the region.

Previously, Anna was Chief Executive Officer of ITN and held senior leadership roles at BBC Studios, including Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Production. In 2024, she chaired the Royal Television Society London Convention on behalf of Netflix.

Anna holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a Non-Executive Director at ScreenSkills and a Trustee of Glyndebourne, reflecting her commitment to nurturing creative talent and championing the cultural sector.

Jon Farrar oversees Global Programming for Britbox International, BBC Studios fast-growing streamer with a strong base in North America.

Under his watch, Britbox has become a more important part of the British drama eco-system, with his funding often making the difference between shows that stall at greenlight and shows that get made. He has led a push into original commissions, instigating dramas that then find a home in the UK, and has helped make Britbox an essential partner for production companies and distributors looking to finance new projects.

Farrar’s career includes an earlier stint at BBC Studios, where he was Global VOD Director and conceptualised and launched BBC Select, the BBC’s first wholly branded streamer in North America. He was also the first Programming Lead for Sky Showtime, the European streamer JV between Comcast and Paramount, building the division and launching 10 original dramas in the first 12 months.

Justin Gupta is Head of Broadcast & Video Ads for EMEA in Google’s sellside monetisation partnerships team, focused on advanced video and audio advertising in OTT, Connected TV, and Smart Devices. With nearly two decades at Google – including stints at Google Video and YouTube – along with 5 years at the BBC, he brings a unique blend of deep technical knowledge, industry connections, and commercial acumen to the sector.

A trusted voice in the OTT community, Gupta is known for his authentic industry leadership and influence across the ecosystem. He actively shapes conversations at key events such as IBC and Future of TV Ads, as well as supporting critical projects like the European Programmatic TV Initiative and standards development within HbbTV and FAST as a DTG council member.

Passionate about TV, user experience and advertising, Gupta is also a vocal champion for diversity and inclusion, consistently working to strengthen the OTT community.

Deborah Armstrong is Senior Vice President Disney Advertising EMEA and Country Manager for The Walt Disney Company UK and Ireland. In this role she’s responsible for advertising sales and brand partnerships for the DTC and Networks businesses for the region, as well as leading the UK and Ireland leadership team and overseeing local cross-company initiatives for the market.

Armstrong joined The Walt Disney Company in 2019 after a tenure of 22 years at Fox Networks Group (FNG) and National Geographic Partners in which she held a variety of leadership roles in EMEA and Asia Pacific. 

Prior to this, she was Head of Sales Marketing & Research at CNBC Asia and Media Director at both Leo Burnett and M&C Saatchi.