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Page 3 of 8 The 2009 How-Do Media 100 - numbers 19 to 30 19. Steve Frost. Head of continuing drama, ITV. Frost’s portfolio includes Coronation Street, Emmerdale, The Bill and Heartbeat. He divides his time between Quay Street, London and Leeds. Prior to current role, he has worked on a variety of programmes, from Hollyoaks to Drop the Dead Donkey and as a series producer on Corrie. Since January this year, he has also been exec producing Emmerdale. Yorkshireman Frost’s nickname we are told is ‘Iceman’. One of a small but growing number of TV execs based in the region with increasing national control and influence.
20. Dee Ford. Group managing director, Bauer Radio. Surprisingly for such an outgoing character, Ford is reluctant to grab much limelight for herself. The 20 plus stations under her control command circa 25% of the UK’s commercial radio market including the majority of the North’s biggest stations. Ford divides her time between her home in Yorkshire, her office in Manchester and seeing ad agencies in London. Last December, Ford restructured the operation taking over direct responsibility for the Big City network. A veteran of print and radio sales, she rose to prominence as ad sales manager on Lancashire Life. 21. Chris Hughes. North West regional MD Newsquest. The regional press has had it particularly tough this year and Hughes had had it in spades. In addition to the departure of three of his regional MDs , Hughes has also had to close a number of titles, local offices, lose staff and close a £17m print centre. Thankfully for him and the industry, the pace of decline in ad and copy sales seems to have slowed substantially since the summer and he remains one of three leading regional publishing MDs. His patch includes The Bolton News and Lancashire Telegraph and around 40 weeklies. 22. Richard Frediani. Head of news, Regionals & Channels ITV. Picked up an RTS this November for Best Regional News Programme for Granada Reports – Hillsborough. In common with his ITV regional news peers, has had to deal with reducing budgets despite the Isle of Man being added to his patch this year since the islanders chose to switch from Border to Granada. A UCLan graduate, he spent four years with red Rose radio before joining IRN as a news reporter. Can sometimes be spotted on Saturday evenings working in his parents’ fish & chip shop in Preston. 23. Stuart Maconie. Radio 2 presenter.…and TV presenter, journalist, columnist and best-selling author. Still co-hosting the weekday evening Radio 2 show with Mark Radcliffe together with frequent stand-in slots elsewhere and the Freak Zone on BBC 6 Music. His attention to and interest in supporting regional affairs distinguishes him from his BBC peers. Elsewhere there are columns for Cumbria Life, promotional work for the NWDA, podcasting and his latest book Adventures on the High Teas.
24. Kieran Roberts. Controller of drama, ITV Studios. It was ITV Productions last year – all part of ITV’s plans to project a higher profile and more ambitious production base they say. Apart from Britannia High not being recommissioned, Roberts’ star continues to shine brightly for one of the broadcaster’s most influential executives. The Manchester-based award-winning producer has numerous credits to his name including Corrie, Krypton Factor, You’ve Been Framed, Cold Blood and University Challenge.
25. Nicola Shindler. Founder, Red Production Company. A relatively quiet year for the founder of Manchester’s most acclaimed indie. The 41 year old is recognised nationally as one of the most influential media folk in the UK. Response to Unforgiven was positive and other projects are being progressed with BBC1 and 2, ITV and Channel 4. BBC Worldwide has first rights to all Red’s drama output internationally. Elsewhere Mark of Cain picked up further awards while her beloved MUFC were crowned champions (of England) again.
26. Tony Foggett. CEO, Code Computerlove. Staff numbers have finally broken through the 50 barrier at around 55. Another highly successful year for the co-founder of the region’s most successful digital agency. Lots of new clients and projects and perhaps no surprise when Code was chosen to relaunch the MediaCity website. An agency restructure last January saw Foggett move from MD to CEO. No word yet of that mooted sale… 27. Alice Morrison. Chief executive, Northwest Vision & Media. Life appears to be good for Morrison. The former print and BBC broadcast journalist runs an expanding operation which this year has secured almost £6m in funding to help it deliver what is an increasingly ambitious programme as the RCO for digital and media across the North West. Morrison has been beefing up both the exec team and the board this year and the recent move to Salford Quays is simply recognition of where future power is likely to lay.
28. Simon Reynolds. Editor, Lancashire Evening Post. Oversees the LEP and Wigan title. Print circulation has slipped in line with other regionals while online figures have soared. Reynolds is acknowledged as one of the most enthusiastic regional editors on matters of convergence with his own paper’s focus split equally across print, broadcasting and digital presentation of news. When trade bodies come a knocking to see how UK print is changing, they’re often to be seen in Preston being shown around the news hub by Reynolds. Appointed to the Press Complaints Commission in July.
 29. Scott Taunton. Chief executive, UTV Media GB. Promoted during the year from boss of radio to overseeing all UTV’s GB media interests. A busy year for the Australian who recently announced UTV’s departure from trade body the RadioCentre. The company’s media interests are growing and currently include 20 plus local radio stations, national station talkSPORT and the 2009 acquisition Sport magazine. Has a reputation as a ‘hands-on’ boss. UTV’s portfolio includes several North West stations and Taunton also lives in Haydock.
 30. Andy Sumner. Managing director, Sumners. A tougher period for Sumner after earlier boom years as broadcasting budgets have inevitably been cut. However, with over 50 edit suites in Manchester, the company still claims the title of biggest single site post production house outside the M25. Entirely owned by Sumner and his wife Janet, the company will be relishing 2011 and the massive expansion of BBC production at MediaCity. Bases himself at the Pie Factory in Salford where the company has a contract advising Peel Media. Next page - Numbers 31 to 100 - unranked part one |
