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.

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, Mallett has overseen teams spanning Production Management, Post Production, VFX, Music, Production Technology and Innovation, and Safety, supporting the creation of Netflix content across the region.

Previously, Mallett 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.

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

An experienced Digital Commissioner, Amie Parker-Williams possesses a distinctive hybrid skill set spanning creative strategy, commissioning, and in-house production. Known for her expertise in reimagining well-established IP and developing creator-led formats, she excels at bridging traditional production with creator-economy energy to build brand-safe, scalable digital propositions. Rooted in YouTube-first thinking, her projects, shaped by audience insight and platform behaviour expand across TV, streaming, and social, to meet audiences wherever they are.

Recognised for tackling social issues through an entertaining lens, Parker-Williams creates content that drives audience impact, global fandom, and brand growth. She believes entertainment should inform, include and inspire —shaping culture, championing new voices, and future-proofing how audiences connect with brands.

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.

Leena Patel is Distribution & Partnerships Leader at Channel 4, where she is helping redefine how a modern public service broadcaster pivots to digital through strategic partnerships.

She manages strategic relationships with global tech giants, PSB joint ventures (Everyone TV, YouView) and emerging platforms. Patel is also a Board Director at Freeview, representing Channel 4’s shareholder interests in one of the UK’s leading free-to-air TV platforms.

Patel has played a central role in some of Channel 4’s most significant developments, helping to negotiate and deliver UKTV’s U service on Channel 4 Streaming – a milestone carriage deal that made Channel 4 the first UK PSB streamer to host a third-party service. She also leads Channel 4’s FAST strategy, including the launch of exclusive streaming channels on Freely.

Before joining Channel 4, Patel held senior roles at the BBC and across major CTV platform businesses, building deep expertise in commercial partnerships, platform growth and digital transformation. She is recognised for her strategic foresight, collaborative leadership and ability to deliver complex, high-impact initiatives in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

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.

Matthew Duhig

As CEO and Co-Founder of FX Digital, Matthew has helped grow the company into one of the UK’s leading Connected TV specialists, delivering projects across broadcasters, sports and streaming platforms. Under his leadership, FX Digital has worked with brands including BritBox, Channel 4, UKTV and ATP Media, while actively contributing to wider industry conversations around the future of streaming and television. Matthew was also recently named a winner in the BIMA 100 CEOs & Leaders (>£5m category).

Tom Smith

Tom has played a key role in shaping product and user experience standards within the CTV space. He has been closely involved in projects such as Channel 4 and UKTV, becoming a strong reference point in Connected TV product design and TV App experience across the industry. Tom has also spoken at several industry conferences, including OTT Question Time Live and StreamTV Europe, helping shape conversations around CTV product strategy and platform fragmentation.

Following a career in advertising at agencies including McCann Erickson and J Walter Thompson, Lindsey Clay’s love of telly drew her to Thinkbox, the UK marketing body for commercial TV, where she now leads the brilliant team who champion TV and help advertisers get the best out of it.

Clay is a passionate and persuasive advocate of the power of TV advertising, the benefits of gender equality and the joy of netball.

A regular industry speaker, commentator and awards judge, Clay is a former founding President of the Global TV Group, a Fellow of the Marketing Society, an Honorary Fellow of the IPA and a member of the Marketing Group of Great Britain.

Clay is also a member and former President of WACL (Women in Advertising and Communication Leadership), a member of The Women of the Year Alumnae and a Top 50 Women Gamechanger in TV.

Clay is also a non-exec director of production company CTVC, which makes Pilgrimage and Songs of Praise.

When not working, or watching telly with her family, Clay plays for Weston Park in the North London Netball League.

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.