WILL SAUNDERS 44 Alzey Gardens Harpenden Herts AL5 5SX 07968

WILL SAUNDERS

44 Alzey Gardens Harpenden Herts AL5 5SX

Will is a highly accomplished media executive with over ten years’ experience operating at senior levels within the BBC. He is a strategic thinker with extensive knowledge of innovation in the fields of digital and social media, allied with a track record of leading transformational change that has delivered outstanding business performance. He demonstrates resilience, adaptability and drive with a leadership style that has allowed him to inspire his teams to deliver excellent results, whilst maintaining an environment based on honesty, trust and professional integrity.

CAREER HISTORY

Creative Director BBC Studios 2014 –

Reporting to Head of Fiction, and Head of Factual Production. Responsible for driving digital development and business for the UK’s leading media producer.

Carried out a review of the overall effectiveness of TV Productions Digital Storytelling Team. Identified performance gaps and simplified line management. Developed new business opportunities with BBC Three, BBC Learning and BBC Worldwide. United television genre heads, commissioners and other senior stakeholders in support of the team. Business won, grew from £150k in 2014/5 to £700k in 2015/6 with projects varying from short form documentary series to interactive Shakespeare guides & virtual reality games.

Formulated the model for the BBC’s first editorially driven in-house digital agency. Sought out and recruited a team of highly energetic, creative multi-skilled collaborators and protected them from the pull of organisational orthodoxy by housing them in Birmingham’s Creative Quarter. Communicated to Channel Controllers and senior stakeholders the strategic benefits of housing this team within television. Since their launch in June 2015 The Digital Guerrilla Team have produced BBC Drama’s first parallel interactive story for BBC Three Controller Damian Kavanagh, launched BBC Food’s first Instagram pilot for Head of Factual Commissioning Emma Swain & are currently developing a social drama for CBBC Controller Cheryl Taylor.

Executive Producer BBC Comedy 2009 - 2014

Reporting to Head of BBC Comedy. Responsible for digital portfolio across a production business worth £40million per annum.

Carried out a comprehensive review of the emerging market, in line with business growth objectives. Identified opportunities for new forms of development and crafted options focussing on the strengths of the existing production base. Extensively consulted with key stakeholders and rigorously assessed the associated risks. Created a practical digital strategy to unite the business and secured board funding approval. Led the implementation with the launch of a new short form video platform, resulting in a 5% year on year growth in business for BBC Comedy and a new route to market.

Performed a detailed review of the steps necessary to launch the landmark production “The Wrong Mans”. Built a multi-disciplined team and outlined realistic digital requirements with production. Generated potential approaches and evaluated risks. Defined a digital marketing strategy and secured approval for investment in innovative analytic tools to monitor audience reaction. Created a communication plan and persuaded key talent to support the initiative beyond contractual requirements. On demand performance achieved 11%, compared to the network average of 7%. Social Media engagement was particularly high with 63% of the online audience having an improved perception of BBC2 as a result of the digital campaign.

Deputy Head BBC Radio Comedy 2003 - 2009

Reporting to Head of BBC Radio Comedy, editorially responsible for over one hundred hours of original programming each year

Secured long term podcasting agreement for flagship comedy series by reviewing the existing BBC service, assessing the risks to existing contractual agreements. And then persuading senior rights, business and editorial teams to support a short term non-precedential trial. Communicated with agents, and key talent the benefits of this and then led the implementation and the subsequent analytics work arising from it. The success of the trial resulted in a new rights agreement and the launch of the BBC's most successful weekly podcast with over 1.5 million monthly subscribers.

Carried out a strategic review of conflicting stakeholder requirements, hindering development of new business. 80% of new comedy talent were in their twenties, but broadcast on Radio 4 with an audience age of fifty plus, with a long development cycle. Research supported opportunities on Radio 1 with a much shorter development cycle. Engaged with key stakeholders and explored options to accommodate key requirements. Assessed the risks and formulated a plan, offering R4 best talent whilst resourcing a weekly R1 series from pan BBC innovation funding. Secured agreement and communicated to both Channels. The pilot, “The Milk Run” went on to become a yearlong low risk playground for the next generation of UK comedy talent (Russell Howard, Greg Davies, Katy Brand, Andrew Lawrence, Katherine Parkinson Tim Key, Tom Basden and many many more….) and was nominated for a Sony Radio Award in 2005.

Coach Harpenden Colts TC 2013 - Present

The local boy’s football club attracts youngsters from Harpenden and the surrounding villages. It is heavily over-subscribed. Volunteered to coach the under eights section, with four other coaches and a weekly attendance of over fifty boys. The philosophy is based on inclusivity and developing the players ensuring game time for all, rather than a pure results driven focus, moulding the group and demonstrating how their individual skills contributed to the team. Our section was recently selected by the FA to have some specialist coaching support which for the boys and the coaches is proving an incredibly rewarding experience.

PREVIOUS ROLES

Producer/Exec Producer Freelance 2002 - 2003 Executive Producer Wise Buddah Production 2001 - 2002 Producer/Senior Producer BBC Radio 1 1995 - 2001 Writer Freelance 1998 - 2000 Trainee Producer BBC 1993 - 1995

HONOURS & AWARDS

BBC Production Award, Digital Innovation; www.bbc.co.uk/taster 2015 BBC Production Award, Digital Innovation; www.bbc.co.uk/thewrongmans 2014 Banff International Rockie Award Nomination; Web-Series, “C Bomb” 2014 Banff International Rockie Award Nomination; Web-Series, “Funtime” 2013 Bafta, New Media Award www.bbc.co.uk/psychoville 2012 Webby Honoree, Humour www.bbc.co.uk/comedy 2011 Webby Honoree, Humour www.bbc.co.uk/comedy 2010 Prix Italia, Best Special Event Website www.bbc.co.uk/rednoseday 2009 Sony Radio Award, Silver, Mark Thomas “My Life”, BBC Radio 4 2008 Sony Radio Award, Bronze, “Flight of the Conchords” BBC Radio 2 2006 Sony Radio Award, Silver “Jammin” BBC Radio 2 2004 Sony Radio Award, Gold “Mark & Lard” BBC Radio 1 1999 British Comedy Award, Writer, Talk shows, “So Graham Norton” 1999 Sony Radio Award, Gold “Mark & Lard” BBC Radio 1 1998

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

High Performance Coaching Programme BBC 2007 Management Development Programme Ashridge Business School 2004 B.A Hons (2:1) American Studies Manchester University 1986-90

PERSONAL DETAILS

Interests; Music, Football, Theatre & Swimming