Simon Michaelides becomes CCO of UKTV

Simon Michaelides UKTV

UKTV, has appointed Simon Michaelides as Chief Commercial Officer, to head up a newly expanded team.

“Simon’s strategic approach to brand and content marketing has driven awareness of UKTV’s channels and its programmes; helping position us as the third largest commercial broadcaster in Britain. His knowledge of our business and marketplace, and his relationships with our highly-valued affiliate partners, positions him perfectly to lead our expert commercial team, which is being expanded to support UKTV’s further growth.” – Darren Childs, UKTV CEO

Simon joined UKTV as Marketing Director in 2012, he has over 18 years of experience leading the Commercial and Marketing agendas for major household name businesses. Simon joined UKTV from Kantar Retail, the consultancy arm of WPP, having worked internationally with blue-chip organisations such as Coke, Kraft, Starbucks and Bacardi-Martini. Other experience includes 13 years at Procter & Gamble, and PepsiCo, managing leading brands such as Walkers Crisps, Tropicana, Flash and Fairy Liquid; as well as entrepreneurial ventures such as Naked smoothies.

Sitting on the Executive Board and reporting to the Chief Executive, Simon is responsible for UKTV’s commercial strategy and implementation, with accountability for all linear and non-linear pay TV platforms, UKTV’s Video on Demand (VOD) businesses, international programme sales, new business development, and all external commercial relationships.

Starting with immediate effect, Simon’s role is to set UKTV up for success in the next phase of its growth, by building enduring partnerships and focusing on adding long-term value to the business. He is tasked with increasing the distribution of UKTV products; accelerating the commercial impact of UKTV’s VOD services, including its own offering, UKTV Play.

Simon will champion UKTV’s unparalleled growth in the market, and lead an expanded team of future-facing specialists. Digital strategy expert, former Director of Digital for Ireland’s TV3 Group, Jill O’Brien, has been hired as UKTV’s Commercial Director. Two new Heads of Distribution are currently being recruited. And to support the rapid growth of UKTV Play, Emma Boston has been appointed as General Manager for VOD. Meredith Coral’s role has been extended to include international programme sales, alongside new business innovation.

“I’m delighted and honoured to take on the commercial responsibilities at UKTV as CCO. It marks an exciting inflection point in the life of the company: after five consecutive years of market defying growth, it’s about step-changing our commercial approach to consolidate the gains we’ve made and build for the future; cementing partnerships new and old, and innovating to maintain a winning formula in an increasingly unpredictable market.” – Simon Michaelides

UKTV has recently celebrated its most successful year, with record viewing share reaching 5.27%, and year-end share of commercial impacts hitting 9.31%, beating Channel 5’s portfolio and all of Sky’s wholly owned channels for the very first time.

UKTV Staff