GrowthLab unveils Paramount UK & Raconteur execs as speakers for new indie event

Sebastian Cardwell

Paramount UK’s deputy chief content officer Sebastian Cardwell and Raconteur Associates’ founder William Miller have become the latest execs unveiled as speakers at GrowthLab, the soon-to-launch new industry event dedicated to promoting growth for UK indies.

Cardwell will be chairing the Going Global session at the London event, while Miller is lined up to chair the TV Or Not TV – Building Alternative Revenue Streams session.

GrowthLab, which is being organised by the team behind UK accelerator programme Indielab, is to be held at Barclays in Canary Wharf on 9 February 2023, with tickets selling fast. (Click here for more info.)

Other confirmed speakers include Liam Keelan, SVP of original content, Europe and Africa, for Disney+ and Harjeet Chhokar, unscripted executive at Amazon Studios, as well as indie founders including Hello Dolly CEO Victoria Ashbourne and Spirit Studios’ Matt Campion.

William Miller

The event will explore how to succeed in a recession and how companies can find new opportunities in the changing global market, with major players including Banijay Rights and BBC Studios among those attending.

Simon Cox, EVP of content & acquisitions at Banijay Rights, said: “The launch of GrowthLab for 2023 will help to support the indie sector even further, demonstrating the importance of long-term growth and sustainability in the content business.”

Matt Richards, MD of Air TV, is among those attending GrowthLab and added: “Our company has so far focused just on UK commissions, so I’m really looking forward to hearing from Harjeet, Liam and Tim about the latest international trends and opportunities as we continue our growth. It will also be great to hear more about alternative revenue streams, as well as meeting new distributors and potential partners throughout the sessions.”

Fellow attendee Julie Heselgrave, MD of Candour Productions, said the “wealth of talent and expertise” attending GrowthLab would allow her company to maximise the revenue potential from its content, while Rosie Perry, business manager at Rollem Productions, said the opportunity to meet distributors and global commissioners “in-person, in one place, and in an informal and friendly environment” was behind her decision to attend.

“Our focus for the future is to deliver our commissioned projects, distribute our extensive back catalogue and to develop fresh and exciting voices to solidify our position as the leading indie drama producer in Yorkshire,” Perry added.

TBI is the exclusive media partner for GrowthLab. For more info on the event, click here.