Kerensa Samanidis is GM for BBC iPlayer where she oversees strategy, growth and overall operation of the service. Last financial year, programmes were streamed a record 8.1 billion times, up 10% on the year before, suggesting that whatever Samanidis and her colleagues are doing, it’s working for viewers!

Prior to taking up the reins at the BBC, Samanidis was working with Channel 4 to develop and implement its international streaming business.

Her long career in the streaming industry began in the early 2000’s where she devised PlayStation’s first video-on-demand strategy. She then held leadership roles at WarnerMedia, AMC Networks and the BFI where she launched and managed a range of international streaming services. Samanidis also ran a successful consulting business with clients including BritBox International, BBC and Channel 4.