A born entrepreneur and a pioneer of the new economy, Alexandre Mars, aged 33, has a 15+ years history of creating, managing and growing successful businesses in Europe and in the US.While graduating from the HEC School of Management and the University of Paris Dauphine, Alexandre launched one of the first web agencies in Europe in 1996. Fascinated by the creativity in the IT industry, he quickly created his own venture-capital fund in 1998. Alexandre acted as an early stage investor and successfully invested in 15 start-ups, both in Europe and in the US.In 2001, Alexandre got early convinced that mobile would offer fantastic development and momentum for brands. He created Phonevalley to provide advertisers with engaging mobile marketing solutions. The company quickly operated for prestigious clients such as Hewlett-Packard, L’Oreal, Paramount, Nestle or Procter & Gamble. Within a few years, Alexandre has grown Phonevalley to its current global market leader position, and in 2007 Phonevalley has been acquired by Publicis Groupe. Alexandre Mars was named Head of Mobile of Publicis Groupe in addition to his CEO role at Phonevalley.A passionate individual about all issues surrounding the new technologies and entrepreneurship fields, Alexandre is frequently invited to share his views in the US and in Europe (MIT Conference, Mobile World Congress, New York Summit, the French Senate, EBG, etc).

Alexander Oudendijk, SVP and Chief Commercial Officer, SES ASTRA S.A.

Alexander Oudendijk is responsible for all SES ASTRA commercial and marketing activities and is a member of the SES ASTRA Management Committee. He joined SES ASTRA in 2002 as Chief Commercial Officer. He has held previous positions in Germany as Vice-President of Satellite Services Sales at Hughes Network Systems Europe and Managing Director of Hughes-Olivetti Telecommunications GmbH and as Sales & Marketing Director for Hughes-Olivetti Telecom Ltd. in the UK. Before that, he held positions with Ericsson-GE in Canada and Siemens AG in Indonesia and in the Netherlands. He began his career as an Associate Expert of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), based in East Africa. Alexander Oudendijk is a Dutch national and holds a BSc and an MSc in Telecommunications from the University of Delft (Netherlands).

Alistair Levack is a partner in the Transaction Services Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers, based in London, and for the last 8 years has led the UK Media and Entertainment deals practice, working for both corporate and private equity clients.

Sub-sectors where he has particular experience include advertising/media buying, market research, sports rights, publishing, cinemas and cinema advertising, exhibitions and broadcasting.

Examples of recent publishing assignments include:

• Acting for Exponent Private Equity on their purchase and subsequent sale of Times Educational Supplement
  
• Acting for KKR on their sale of VNU Business Media Europe to 3i
  
• Acting for Apax on their purchase of Incisive Media and Incisive’s subsequent acquisition of the UK operations of VNU BME from 3i
  
• Acting for GMG on their purchase of Trader Media and subsequently for Apax on their recent purchase of the same business
  
• Leading the vendor due diligence for Reed Elsevier on its sale of Harcourt Education
  
• Acting for a private equity investor in relation to their interest in Bertlesmann Springer
  
• Leading the vendor due diligence project for Pearson on the aborted disposal of FT Business.

Anthony Fry is Senior Managing Director, Evercore Partner

Anthony Fry is Senior Managing Director of Evercore Partner and has spent his entire career as an investment banker having graduated with first class honours from Magdalen College, Oxford. An 18 year career at The Rothschild Group included 5 years running the corporate finance business in Melbourne. In the 1980s he advised governments in the UK, New Zealand and Pakistan on their privatisation programmes in particular the IPOs in the UK of the 10 water companies, the 12 regional electricity companies, Rolls Royce, British Steel and Britoil. In the early 1990s he was responsible for structuring the UK's National Lottery and ran one of the bids for the first licence in 1994. From 1996 he was the head of CSFB's global media business where he advised media corporations around the world before moving to head up the London based operations of Lehman Brothers in 2004 where he advised many companies on M&A transactions, notably The London Stock Exchange through 5 takeover defences in a period of global consolidation. At the start of 2008 he was invited to join Evercore as the Senior Managing Director in the boutique investment bank's new London office.
He has served as a non-executive director on a number of listed company boards including Southern Water, Mowlem as well as that of the BSI, the UK’s standards setting agency. He is currently on the boards of Dairy Crest and Control Risks. As of 1st November he was also appointed as a member of the BBC Trust.
In addition to his business activities and frequent television appearances as a commentator on media matters, Anthony has sat on numerous not-for-profit boards including The British Lung Foundation, The London Academy of Music and Drama (LAMDA), The Natural History Museum, The National Film and Television School, The Sixteen, The Edinburgh International Television Festival and The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Bhavneet Singh is Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Emerging Markets, MTV Networks International (MTVNI). In this position, Singh is responsible for the management and direction of one of the company’s largest regions spanning Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa.  His role includes a specific focus on developing and establishing MTVNI’s portfolio of entertainment brands which include MTV, Nickelodeon, VIVA, Comedy Central and VH1 across multiple media platforms including broadband, mobile and online. Based in London, Singh reports into Bob Bakish, President, MTVNI.

Brian Sullivan is Managing Director of Sky’s Customer Group, which is responsible for marketing, sales, product strategy and customer care across all consumer touch-points.  This begins with the insight from the Marketing Strategy team, is brought to life by the Product Development and Management areas, and is ultimately delivered and supported by Sales, Retention and Customer Operations.   
Key areas of responsibility include research, analysis, data and segmentation, competitive strategy, pricing and packaging, Sky Broadband, Sky Talk, Sky+, HD, and Sky Anytime.  The team manage all sales and retention activity, including online, interactive, retail and direct, as well as customer service, technical support, and field operations.
Working with all other departments throughout Sky, including Brand and Communications, Technology, Programming, and many others, Sky’s Customer Group drive innovation, value and world class customer service to deliver the best entertainment experience in the UK.  
Brian also serves on Sky’s Executive and Roadmap Strategy committees.  
Brian is a veteran of the pay television industry, with 20 years experience.  He joined Sky in February of 1996 and has held a variety of roles Sky, including Channels Marketing, Digital Transition, Retention & Customer Marketing and Product Strategy & Management.  Prior to joining Sky he has spent most of his career in the Pay TV industry in the States, including time with Viacom's Showtime Networks.  He is 46 years of age, a native of Philadelphia, USA, attended Villanova University, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Direct Marketing.

Crevan O'Grady joined 3i in 1997. He began his 3i career based in Leeds and, following a year working in Amsterdam, he is now based in London where he leads 3i's media sector team globally. Crevan sits on the board of VNU Media. Prior to joining 3i, Crevan worked for KPMG, Leeds. Crevan has a degree in Business and Accounting from Dundee University and also qualified as a Chartered Accountant while working for KPMG. During his time in 3i, Crevan led the buyout of Malmberg Educational Information Group, De Telefoongids, Mediatel, YBR, Sparrowhawk Media and VNU Media.

Daniel Sandelson, Partner, Clifford Chance.

Daniel Sandelson specializes in M&A and commercial law relating to the media and communications industries; advises on media and communications, acquisitions and disposals, television and film production and distribution, broadcast start-ups particularly in pay and terrestrial television, communications regulation and copyright.  

David Lancefield, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers

David Lancefield is a partner in the PwC media consulting practice, based in London. David specialises in shaping and supporting major strategic and commercial decisions, working with senior management of Europe’s leading media organisations.

David’s practice conducts strategy reviews, partnership structuring, business plan development, regulatory case-making and valuations (particularly IP), working with clients including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Five, Thomson, WPP, Eircom, DC Thomson, Ofcom, Thinkbox, Freesat, Clear Channel and SMG. David has specialist expertise in new media rights, the commercial issues of content commissioning and production over ‘new’ platforms (mobile TV, IPTV, VoD) and regulatory issues facing media organisations (public funding, competition issues, content regulation).

His views have been published in the Financial Times, Broadcast, Media Week, New Media Markets, CNN and CNBC.

David’s interests include playing the trumpet, running and interior design. He has an MSc Economics from the University of Warwick.

John Cresswell, is Chief Operating Officer for ITV plc and was appointed to the role in January 2007 following a period as interim CEO. From January 2006 to August 2008 he was Finance Director of ITV plc. Previously John spent 5 years as Chief Operating Officer of Granada Content, building the production and distribution division of ITV plc. John joined Granada in 2000 from United Business Entertainment where he was the Chief Operating Officer of the Broadcast division. He qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG from where he joined TVS and Meridian.

John Hahn is a Managing Director of Providence based in London and leads the firm’s European investment activities. He is currently a member of the Supervisory Board of Kabel Deutschland and is a director of Nordic Cable Acquisition Company (com hem), Digital Platform lletisim Hizmetleri (Digiturk), Grupo Corporativo Ono and Volia Cable. Prior to joining Providence in 2000, Mr. Hahn was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Mr. Hahn worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Federal Data Corporation. Mr. Hahn received a Master of Business Administration from the Anderson School at the University of California at Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

John McMahon, President and Managing Director, Europe
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI)

John McMahon is President and Managing Director, Europe, for SPTI, a position he has held since August 2005. Based in London since late 1997, McMahon oversees all aspects of Sony Pictures’ television business in Europe as well as Africa, the Middle East, Russia and the other countries of the CIS. He is responsible for the development, implementation and co-ordination of key business strategies across SPTI’s three business lines: local production, licensing and international channels, and supervises the daily operations of those businesses. He is also charged with identifying and exploring European investment opportunities for SPTI and overseeing the management of SPTI’s new mobile and digital initiatives in the region.

McMahon received JD and MBA degrees from the University of Southern California and earned his B.S. degree in Business from the University of California at Berkeley.

John McVay, Chief Executive, Pact

John McVay is the Chief Executive of Pact. He has been involved in
programme making as a producer, consultant and trainer since 1986.
Prior to his appointment at Pact, he held positions as Chief Executive
for Scottish Broadcast and Film Training, Director of Training and
Education at Scottish Screen and was the founding Director of the
Research Centre for Television and Interactivity, where he developed the
concept for Cross Creatives. John is a Board Member of Skillset, and
Chaired Skillset's Investment Committee he is a Governor of the National
Film and TV School and a member of Film London's Taskforce. He led the
successful campaign to secure Independent Producers programme rights in
the 2003 Communications Act and the subsequent protracted negotiations
with UK broadcasters over terms of trade and new media rights.

Marty Pompadur, Consultant.

Marty Pompadur graduated from Williams College and from the University of Michigan Law School. He began his career as a practicing attorney in Connecticut but quickly entered the media field when he joined American Broadcast Companies, Inc, in 1960. He remained at ABC for 17 years, culminating with his position as a member of the Board of Directors. While at ABC, Mr. Pompadur held the positions of General Manager of Television Network, Vice President of the Broadcast Division, and President of the Leisure Activities Group, which included ABC Publishing, Records, Music Publishing and Motion Picture Theatres. Mr. Pompadur left ABC in 1977 and became President of Ziff Corporation, a position he held until 1982. Ziff Corporation was the holding company for both the Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, then one of the world's largest publishers of special interest and business publications, and the Ziff-Davis Broadcasting Company, which operated six network affiliated television stations. From 1983 until April 2007, Mr. Pompadur was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RP Companies' various private and public limited partnerships which operated television and radio station and cable television systems. He also is a principal owner and on the Board of Directors of Caribbean International News Corporation which publishes El Vocero, a Spanish language daily newspaper in Puerto Rico; the principle owner of Montana Coffee, a company in the wholesale and retail coffee business in Russia; and an investor in Talent Partners a payroll company.

Effective June 1, 1998, Mr. Pompadur became Executive Vice President of News Corporation, President of News Corporation Eastern and Central Europe and a member of News Corporation's Executive Management Committee. On January 11, 2000, Mr. Pompadur was appointed Chairman of News Corp. Europe. Mr. Pompadur also is a board member of Balkan Bulgarian, News Out of Home B. V., RP Coffee Ventures, Nextstar, Sky Italia and Seatwave Inc.

Patrick Svensk, CEO, Zodiak Television

Patrick Svensk is CEO of Zodiak Television, one of the most innovative and creative producers of content in the world today, comprised of more than twenty successful international businesses.

Majoring in Accounting and Finance at MSc Stockholm School of Economics and Strategic Marketing Management and International Business at Rotterdam Business School at Erasmus University, Svensk has more than 15 years management experience in the television industry. Previously Managing Director at TV3 Sweden, Marketing Director at TV3 Scandinavia and CEO of MTG International, he also worked as Managing Director of advertising agency Hallstedt & Hvid, at the time the second most profitable agency in Sweden.

Svensk then went on to spend four years as CEO of Swedish station Kanal 5, tripling the average viewing share and increasing the market share of television advertising even further during those years. He then co-founded and held the position of CEO at Sky Ventures, a public investment company specialising in interactive media and digital television.

After handling a major acquisition for MTV Produktion, a public television production company, of which he was already non-executive director, Svensk took over as CEO immediately following the completion of the merger, going on to acquire the production company Jarowskij.

The Group, now rebranded to Zodiak Television, is today a market leader comprising companies throughout the world including Bullseye (UK), Diverse Productions (UK), Lucky Day (UK), Red House (UK), Zodiak International (UK), Kanakna (Belgium, Netherlands), Social Club Productions (Denmark), Mastiff (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Ukraine, Poland), Jarowskij (Sweden, Finland), 5th Element (Sweden), Yellow Bird (Sweden, Germany), T&T Broadcasters (Finland), TeleAlliance Media Group (Russia, Belarus), Dixi Media (Russia), YS Films (Ukraine) and SOL (India).

Since the summer of 2008, Zodiak Television is wholly owned by the Italian group De Agostini and is no longer a public company.

Paul Fisher, Partner, Advent Venture Partners

Paul’s areas of focus are digital media & internet, convergence technologies, software and services. Paul was previously Associate Director and an early investor in First Capital, where he helped to build this European leader in technology investment banking and advisory for the venture capital market. He has also worked in a number of early stage technology companies, including Rawflow, Reevoo.com, OmniPerception and MintDigital and also on M&A for Cassium Technologies, Smart421 & Aim Software. Before First Capital, Paul worked in investment banking at Citibank and Salomon Smith Barney where he worked on the equity -backed derivative market. Paul is a graduate of Warwick University and a member of the Securities Institute where he studied corporate finance. Paul’s Blog can be found here: www.thecoffeeshopsofmayfair.com.

Peter Smith, President, NBC Universal International.

Peter Smith is President of NBC Universal International, reporting to Jeff Zucker, President and Chief Executive Officer, NBC Universal.

Based in London, Mr Smith is responsible for spearheading international business growth opportunities for NBC Universal in partnership with key leaders in each business. His role is focused on better leveraging NBC Universal’s existing international business by coordinating efforts across all of the company’s divisions to build growth, scale and synergies.

Peter Smith has direct operational responsibility for International TV Distribution, which is led by Belinda Menendez (who also reports to Rick Finkelstein), and for NBCU Global Networks under Roma Khanna (President, Global Networks & Digital Initiatives). In addition, Smith works closely with other key executives with international responsibilities, including David Kosse (International Theatrical Marketing and Distribution), Mick Buckley (CNBC Europe), Jeremy Pink (CNBC Asia) and Eddie Cunningham (President UPIE).

In April 2007, NBC Universal International unveiled ambitious growth plans to more than double the international contribution from 20 to 30 per cent of NBCU’s total revenues over the next 2-3 years.

Under Peter Smith’s stewardship, NBC Universal’s international expansion ambitions have seen rapid and decisive delivery:

• The senior leadership team was bolstered by key appointments including Roma Khanna (President, Global Networks & Digital Initiatives), Angela Bromstad (President, International TV Production) and Christian Grass (President, International Studio) - all based in London to execute international growth.
  
• NBCU unveiled aggressive plans for Global Networks to launch 20 new channels in 23 countries. In fact, the division has over-delivered by reaching around 50 channels by end 2007, with a total of around 100 channels forecast by 2010. 
  
• In October 2007, NBCU acquired Sparrowhawk Media in a deal that more than doubles the size of Global Networks with a total of over 140 million subscribers worldwide. 
  
• NBC Universal has launched Sci Fi channel in Japan and Sci Fi and Universal Channels in Russia - both landmark first-time channel launches in key priority territories. 
  
• NBCU established local production growth in TV and Film, with local versions of Law & Order in France, Russia and the UK, as well as significant partnerships with world-class filmmakers such as Bekmambetov, Mireilles, Cuaron, del Toro and Inarritu.

These growth milestones come alongside a year of very successful organic growth for NBCU’s international businesses in 2007:

• Global Network’s ongoing extensive expansion of its thematic channel brands - Sci Fi, Universal, 13th Street, Studio Universal, Hallmark, Diva TV, Movies 24 and KidsCo     
  
• The international Theatrical division, UPI, reached $1bn international box office and worldwide, Universal achieved a 23% increase in box office gross versus 2006    
  
• International home entertainment (UPIE) has achieved its highest ever DVD performance with The Bourne Ultimatum

Peter Smith continues his strong growth leadership in 2008 with many further plans and initiatives around channels expansion, strategic priority markets, local production and digital growth encompassing licensing, mobile, gaming and IPTV opportunities.

NBCU will make further major announcements as they continue to deliver on their aggressive international expansion commitments.

NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.

Phil Stokes leads PricewaterhouseCoopers’ dedicated Entertainment and Media (E&M) industry group in the UK, driving thought leadership and best practice across the audit, tax and advisory practices.  He works closely with the company’s global E&M leadership team and with E&M experts across Europe.

His current clients operate in the television production, broadcast and distribution, advertising, marketing and sports sectors and he has worked extensively with publishing, radio, music and film groups in recent years.

He has supported these and other clients in audits and in special projects including operational and financial risk reviews, acquisition and disposal due diligence and flotations.

In addition to his UK and other European experience, Phil has undertaken secondments to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ New York and San Francisco offices.

Simon Pollock is Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA for AETN International, a division of A&E Television Networks (AETN).  Mr. Pollock oversees sales and marketing for European, Middle Eastern and African territories for HISTORY™, The Biography Channel®, Crime & Investigation Network®, Military History™, and HISTORY HD™, responsible for the strategic development of the networks.  Mr. Pollock joined AETN International in 2000 as Managing Director of Europe.

 Steve Andrews is Chief of Mobility and Convergence for BT Group. Within this role, Steve leads an organisation focused on delivering innovative fixed, mobility and convergent products and services to BT’s customers throughout the world.

In recognition of his contribution to developing converged and innovative products, he was elected as the new chairman of the Fixed-Mobile Convergence Alliance which now represents 24 global operators with over 800 million customers with the common aim of creating value through convergent customer propositions.

Steve has also recently been appointed as Managing Director of UK Regions. The BT regional teams are responsible for helping grow BT’s business and representing BT at a local and regional level to ensure that BT’s activities are complementary to the community agenda, in such subjects as digital inclusion, education and regeneration. Examples of key local initiatives for BT are; Wireless Cities, 21st Century Networks, 2012 Olympics and many more. In 1997, Steve was appointed Director of European Alliances on the Board of BT Europe, where he was responsible for managing BT's interests on the Board of various Fixed, Mobile and Internet communications businesses. Prior to this he spent 4 years managing various operations throughout Europe, including Customer Services and IT.

Steve joined BT plc in 1975 and prior to his current role, he was President of BT’s Global Network and Carrier business.

He is married with two young children and enjoys football, golf, ski-ing, travel and the countryside.

Stuart Collingwood, Vice President EMEA, Sling Media. Mr. Collingwood joined Sling Media in June, 2006 and has responsibility for all of the company’s European operations including partnerships, country and territory expansion and strategic planning. For the three years prior to joining Sling Media, Mr. Collingwood advised pay TV providers, digital media companies and technology start-ups on the launch of new digital platforms and technology. He also served as Vice President EMEA for Liberate and spent eight years at Fujitsu-ICL. Mr. Collingwood is based in London

Tony Cohen is CEO of FremantleMedia, the production division of the RTL Group, and one of the most successful international creators and producers of television programmes in the world. The company has a turnover of over €1bn, and produces more than 300 different programmes and series each year through a production network of companies in 25 countries around the world. The company specialises in primetime drama, reality and entertainment programming, including the Idols, X Factor and Got Talent formats in dozens of countries, dramas like The Bill in the UK and Neighbours in Australia, and reality shows like The Apprentice on the BBC and Grand Designs on Channel 4. The company also exports programmes to over 150 countries, while its ancillary rights business includes brand licensing, interactive, mobile and home entertainment around the world.

Tony has been CEO of the company since 2001.

Ynon Kreiz is the Chief Executive Officer of the Endemol group.

Prior to joining Endemol, Mr. Kreiz worked as an investor in the media industry. Between 2005 and 2007, Mr. Kreiz was a General Partner at Balderton Capital (formerly Benchmark Capital Europe), a leading venture capital firm, where he served on the boards of Setanta Sports and Codemasters.

Between 1997 and 2002 Mr. Kreiz was Chairman and CEO of Fox Kids Europe N.V. (FKE), which he co-founded with Mr. Haim Saban in October 1996. Under Mr. Kreiz's management, Fox Kids became one of the fastest growing pay-TV channels in Europe and the Middle East, broadcasting in 56 countries in 17 languages. FKE was listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange in Amsterdam in November 1999.

The majority shareholding in the company was sold by Fox Family World Wide, Inc. (FFWW), a joint venture between Saban Entertainment and News Corp., to the Walt Disney Company in October 2001, as part of its acquisition of FFWW.

Mr. Kreiz was born in Israel in 1965. He is a graduate of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management (MBA, 1993) and Tel Aviv University (BA, Economics and Management, 1991).