Ian McDonough

Bio

A strategic and entrepreneurial leader with a strong record of delivering growth, innovation, partnerships and successful investment in content across global markets. CEO of the UK and AIM-listed technology company Blackbird plc. including relaunching, refinancing rebranding and repositioning its innovative and powerful cloud-based video editing technology, Blackbird, as a remote editing solution to global media companies. During my tenure I have led two oversubscribed and successful multi million pound fund raises, the share price has risen five-fold and the market cap ten-fold. To date we have also closed deals with the NHL, NRL, NFL, A+E Networks, TATA Communications, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Sky News Arabia, Riot Games, 51 local US news stations and the world's largest financial news organisation amongst others. Until April 2017 led the largest and most profitable of Turner's businesses in EMEA winning six BAFTAs (including Children's Channel of the Year), secured external local funding for an international animation production and driven world-first Time Warner partnerships with Warner Bros and HBO. In March 2016 led the negotiation of an extended and improved 5-year affiliate partnership with Sky UK, which secured carriage of all of Turner's channels and on demand content in 10 million Sky TV households until 2020. Turner is also a key partner in the Sky Kids app. This was followed by a similar long-term and improved partnership with Virgin Media. Was selected to attend Harvard Business School in 2016, which was transformational. Also a strong believer in investing in the team’s skills and personal development enrolling them in courses in leadership negotiation and M&A. Prior to Turner delivered 5 years of record-breaking growth at BBC Worldwide leading the EMEA and latterly CEMA regions, launching businesses in Italy, Africa, Poland and the Nordic. Successfully invested in local production winning two SAFTA. A global citizen who has lived and worked successfully in China, Romania, Poland, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Although each country has many unique attributes and challenges, an open mind, total professionalism and respect for others invariably yields success. Identified by the BBC Worldwide Board as one of the top three executive talents in the company and selected by Viacom as one of 10 'Future Global Leaders'