What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Feel the fear and do it anyway! Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone often leads to growth, new experience, greater insight and knowledge.
What is the most important thing you’ve learnt in your career?
A calm, measured and respectful approach will always produce the best results. Otherwise, decision making can be compromised, important factors missed and outcomes sub-optimal. Passion in what you do is vital, but it’s important this does not get the better of you when presenting or negotiating your position or point of view.
Which area of innovation excites you most and why?
Delivering products which excite and delight customers. Providing excellence through thoughtfully designed, intuitive and accessible user interfaces, resulting in an exceptional experience. Innovation never stops.
What is the one change you think is critical for the industry?
The next major change for the industry will be the inevitable migration from traditional broadcast to IP delivery of linear content and services – indeed this has already started with the introduction of Sky Glass. As this is rolled out across the wider industry we must make sure the transition is invisible to the consumer, quality of service is maintained (and ideally increased) and no one is disadvantaged.
What makes this industry special?
The level of stakeholder engagement and cooperation across the industry has driven, shaped and maintained the interoperability between the products and services delivered to UK consumers and audiences. This is something we should all be very proud of, and make sure it continues as the industry landscape becomes more complex and fragmented.
What key skills do you think are needed for your role?
Being able to see the bigger picture as well as diving into the detail when needed. Contributing to high level strategy, to reviewing and capturing low level product requirements – both are vital in order to remain relevant in such a dynamic and fast moving industry.
What do you think is the biggest challenge that the industry needs to address?
The continued and sustainable delivery of world class free-to-air TV alongside global content services. Thus, providing the best the UK has to offer to consumers and audiences through intuitive and easy to use interfaces – meeting consumer expectations and making sure they don’t have to work hard to find the content they love.
What is your desert island luxury item?
All episodes of The Adam Buxton podcast. A very talented interviewer, able to get the most from his many guests through his relaxed and self-deprecating “ramble-chat” approach. Highly entertaining.
What kept you sane during lockdown?
Making rustic furniture in my garage – obviously “rustic” means a lack of real woodworking skill and limited patience when waiting for glue to dry.
What do you do to unwind?
Running, reading and cooking – but not all at the same time.
