Our Board comprises highly experienced and visionary business leaders. The company’s vision is to engage, inspire and connect the world through video.
Leading With Purpose
Anne de Kerckhove
Chair
Anne is an experienced international executive with a wealth of experience in technology, B2B and B2C SaaS, Media and Entertainment, e-commerce, marketplaces and digital transformation. She has extensive Non-Executive Director experience of publicly quoted and private companies, including 888 Holdings plc, Eagle Eye Solutions Group plc, 7Digital Group Ltd and Metail Ltd. Anne is an angel investor, mentor, and Limited Partner in over 20 early-stage start-ups and entrepreneurial funds. She actively advocates for women within the technology industry and is a guest lecturer at INSEAD.
Ian McDonough
Chief Executive Officer
Ian brings considerable knowledge and experience of delivering growth and value in the global media sector. His core expertise is in building high-value and commercially innovative partnerships. During his five years at BBC Worldwide, he rose to become Executive Vice President and General Manager for one of seven global regions. Most recently, Ian covered the UK, Ireland, Nordic and Baltic countries as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Turner (formerly Turner Broadcasting). He previously held senior commercial posts at A&E Europe and Viacom Asia.
Dr Stephen Streater
R&D Director
Stephen started his public company career as a founder of Eidos plc where his positions included Managing Director and Director of Video Technology. He founded and successfully floated Blackbird plc, where his combination of expertise in technology, business and finance has been instrumental in the evolution of the company. Stephen spends time presenting his revolutionary ideas to public audiences, both at exhibitions and in the press.
Stephen White
Chief Operating & Financial Officer
Stephen is an experienced commercial Finance Director with extensive experience in the media sector. He joined from Comcast where he spent over 4 years working in the Networks division at NBC Universal. His most recent position was Vice President of Finance for the UK and Emerging Markets (EMEA) region where he oversaw the day to day finance operations including all reporting and business planning. He was a key member of the senior management team, business partnering with all operational departments, ensuring aligned strategies and driving both short-term and long-term profitability. Prior to Comcast, Stephen held senior finance positions at BBC Worldwide, Jetix Europe and Disney having qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Ernst & Young.
Youri Hazanov
Non Executive Director
Youri Hazanov brings a wealth of expertise in developing and scaling international businesses, extensive knowledge of partnerships across B2C and B2B sectors and a comprehensive understanding of the diverse business models that underpin success in the Creator Economy. As General Manager and Chief Partnerships Officer at JellySmack, a SoftBank-backed unicorn in the Creator economy, Youri leads the company’s global expansion efforts drawing on his deep knowledge of Partnerships and advanced analytics. Prior to JellySmack, Youri spent 10 years at Google launching, developing and managing YouTube across international markets. Fluent in five languages, he holds an MBA, a Master's in International Relations, and teaches Digital Marketing at the International University of Monaco.
Nick Lisher
Non Executive Director
Nick Lisher is a senior growth marketing executive known for his expertise in community building, digital and data driven performance marketing, and innovative brand development. With a career spanning over two decades, Nick has a proven track record of driving user acquisition and revenue growth, having held key leadership roles at Flo Health, Nextdoor, and Depop. Currently the Chief Growth Officer at Manual & Voy, Nick has spearheaded growth across diverse industries, including music, fashion, technology, education, and health.
Blackbird is best-of-breed
Jon Hanford - Group CTO, Deltatre