Lord Grade – Former Chairman of the BBC, non-exec director of WRG
Michael Grade has had a long and distinguished career in broadcasting, encompassing London Weekend Television, the BBC, ITV, as well as over nine years as Chief Executive of Channel Four Television. He is non-executive Chairman of Pinewood and Shepperton Film Studios and also of Ocado, the on-line grocery operation. In May 2004 he was appointed Chairman of the BBC, succeeding Gavyn Davies, resigning in November 2006 when his appointment as Executive Chairman of ITV was announced. Since his departure from ITV at the end of 2009, he has become non-executive Chairman of the talent agency, the James Grant Group and also a non-executive Director of WRG, a creative communications company based in Manchester. He is a lay member of the Press Complaints Commission. He is also a Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry. In January 2011 he became the Tory Peer, Lord Grade of Yarmouth.
Nick Jones – Head of Digital at Number 10/Cabinet Office
Nick Jones is the head of digital in the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office. His team is responsible for the Prime Minister’s digital communication and engagement across a dozenchannels – such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare. They also deliver digital comms for the Deputy Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office. He is a member of the Social Media Council of the Interactive Advertising Bureau and chaired the judges at this year’s Marketing’s Revolution Online Awards. In 2012, Nick completed four years as director of interactive services at the COI. There his team delivered hundreds of digital projects for public sector clients such as the Royal Air Force. Nick contributes to government guidance and standards on social media and digital engagement. A former Jupiter Research analyst he co-founded New Media Age in 1994. He first went online in 1992 after getting snowed in. He graduated from the University of St Andrews and holds a MA (Hons) in Geography.
Serat Pediredla – Managing Director & Mobile Marketing Specialist, Hedgehog Lab
Serat Pediredla launched post-PC digital agency Hedgehog Lab in 2007 to design, develop and market Apps and digital solutions for phones, tablets, TV, kiosks and other post-PC devices. They help brands and enterprises prepare for a future dominated by post-PC technologies, specialising in working with clients on Innovation and R&D on mobile and emerging platforms. Founded as a pure play post-PC agency in 2010, and with offices in London and Newcastle Upon Tyne, Hedgehog Lab has a 12-person team that is growing rapidly by focusing on delivering great post-PC experiences and campaigns to clients across the UK and abroad. Hedgehog lab has architected and developed mobile solutions and software for clients like News International, Statoil ASA, East Coast and Reckitt Benckiser plc.
Tim Geary – PR Director, Big Communications
Tim joined Big in January 2012 to head up the new PR division. He has more than 20 years PR experience, gained both in-house and as a consult. His previous roles include Managing Director of Golley Slater PR and Deputy Managing Director of McCann Erickson Birmingham. Over the years, Tim has worked with numerous clients ranging from Mercedes-Benz, Halfords, npower, Peugeot, Hilton and The Army.
Dan Neville – Digital Director, Big Communications
Dan has over 10 years of agency experience. He started his career with Grey Interactive working on digital campaigns for brands such as Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Vodafone and then went on to work on the Jaguar Cars brand for 5 years, assuming client servicing responsibility for all global digital campaigns. Dan joined Big in 2005 and since then has been providing strategic guidance and direction on the use of the digital channels to all of Big’s clients, including Lucozade, Toshiba, Thorpe Park and Grant Thornton.