K7 Media

K7 Media

Meet our team

K7 Senior Leadership Team

Keri Lewis Brown

CEO & Founder

Keri founded K7 Media in 1998 as an independent organisation providing media intelligence to broadcasters, producers, distributors and advertisers. Keri has driven the company’s growth from breakaway startup to a leading media consultancy providing insights to an 80-strong client base across the world.

Before founding K7 Media, Keri was Head of International Sales for production company, Action Time, where she led the rapid expansion of international format sales, making her one of the first to explore the potential of global programming. Keri is based at K7 Media’s headquarters in Manchester and since March 2015 has served on the board of FRAPA (Format Recognition and Protection Association), which aims to protect the intellectual property of television formats across the globe.

Contact Keri via keri.lewisbrown@k7.media.

Clare Thompson

Non-executive Director

Clare is a non-Exec Director on the K7 board, and regularly writes and presents on global content trends for K7’s international clients, and at TV Festivals from Copenhagen to Tel Aviv.
 
Her background is in entertainment and factual entertainment development: as Head of Entertainment Development at ITV from 2000 - 2008, she steered work on international formats including Saturday Night Takeaway, Gameshow Marathon and Celebrities Under Pressure for ITV, Brainiac for Sky and American Princess for NBC in the US. 

After a stint running ITV's internal innovation unit Imagine, she set up her own consultancy, running development workshops, training sessions and channel / commissioning strategy projects for clients including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV Studios (UK & US), EndemolShine, All3Media, MTV, RTL/ UFA (Germany), Warner Brothers, Lagardère Sports and Chinese broadcasters including CCTV, Jiangsu and Shanghai Media Group; alongside advising on the development slates of several smaller indies in France, Ireland and the UK.
 
Sometimes she even still makes shows!  Girls With Autism - an Emmy, BAFTA and RTS-shortlisted access doc for ITV - was the most recent.

Gary Carter

Non-executive Director

Described by C21's David Jenkinson as 'one of the most influential players in the formats business', Gary Carter has previously been presented with the Formats Gold Award at MipFormats for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

Carter is regarded as a pioneer of the Reality TV genre. He is a former Co-CEO of International Operations at production giant Endemol Shine Group, and former COO of FremantleMedia Group. His extensive work in the television industry, on numerous high-profile projects, includes overseeing the early roll-out of ‘Survivor’, ‘Big Brother’ and ‘The X Factor’.

Victoria De Kerdrel

Global Business Director

Victoria has spent 10 years in Asia working on numerous co-production projects with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS). Prior to this, she had a number of roles at BBC Studios in key European territories including a stint in the Paris office where she ran the factual co-production business in France.

Victoria joined K7 in October 2019 and is based in Singapore.

The Management Team

Ella Turner

Associate Director: Client Relations

Ella graduated with a master’s degree in Translation and Interpreting Studies from the University of Manchester in 2015.

As Associate Director of Client Relations, Ella is responsible for managing client relationships, acting as the first point of contact for research requests, as well as delivering trends presentations for K7's international client base. Additionally, Ella edits K7's weekly European Report, and monthly Latin America report.

Ella speaks Spanish and enjoys travelling and experiencing new cultures. Ella also likes to keep active and plays netball for a local team.

Richard O’Meara

Associate Director: Drama and Insight

Richard graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in History in 2013, and also has a post-graduate diploma in Journalism.

Richard is responsible for ensuring all of K7’s wider output offers as much insight as possible. Richard also heads up the scripted team at K7 Media, overseeing all bespoke, weekly, and monthly scripted output. He also edits the World Drama, Latin America, UK Comedy and Drama, and North American scripted reports, as well as the Scriptlist showreel. Additionally, Richard travels to markets and meets with clients.

Outside of work, Richard likes travelling, checking out live music, and keeping active– he currently enjoys cycling and indoor climbing.

Michelle Lin

Associate Director: Operations

Born and raised in Taiwan, Michelle (PeiHua) Lin came to Manchester in 2016 to pursue a master’s degree in translation and interpreting between Mandarin Chinese and English. Michelle has international experience and brings a new perspective to the office, having previously worked both in the US and Thailand before joining the K7 team.

Michelle has headed up the APAC department of K7 Media since 2017, and acts as the window for all Asian clients. Michelle is also in charge of K7 Media's annual Tracking the Unscripted Giants format sales report. Michelle is experienced in format analysis, multi-genre programme research, and territory study on Asia-Pacific countries. Michelle has also led the business growth in the Asia Pacific territory and represented K7 at various events around the world such as ATF, BCWW, TIFFCOM, MIP Formats, Shanghai TV Festival, and so on.

Michelle likes to keep active, spending her free time skiing, climbing, and doing yoga– and she also has a scuba diving licence! When she does finally sit down, she’ll most likely be found catching up on K-Dramas.

The Team

Alice Hinett

Head of Unscripted Research

Alice joined K7 Media in 2016 as a Researcher, after graduating with a degree in History from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Specialising in unscripted developments across the TV landscape, Alice edits K7’s weekly UK and North America Unscripted Reports, curates the Entertainment Quicklist, and leads on bespoke research requests. She also delivers monthly webinars on a range of unscripted trends, as well as thoroughly enjoying pulling together K7’s Catalogue Highlights ahead of each MIP market.

Outside of K7, Alice loves travelling to new places and hiking in Manchester’s surrounding countryside with her dog, Dobby.

Niamh Frain

Business Affairs Manager

Niamh graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2017 where she studied English Literature. She started working at K7 in November 2019 after returning from 15 months working and travelling abroad. Niamh is executive assistant to the CEO and Management Board, charged with the smooth running of K7 behind the scenes.

Outside of work, Niamh enjoys gardening, cooking and running.

Patti Linnett

Senior Research Manager

Patti joined K7 in the spring of 2019 after graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in History. As a researcher, Patti works closely on both the weekly European and North American Scripted reports as well as helping curate K7's monthly Scriptlist and contributing to bespoke projects for clients across both the scripted and unscripted space.

Outside of K7, Patti enjoys a good book, hiking in the lakes, socialising with friends and of course getting into the latest drama TV has to offer!

Trang Nguyen

APAC, Middle East & Africa Manager

Born and raised in Vietnam, Trang came to the University of Manchester to pursue a master's degree in Business Psychology in 2018. Now working in K7's Asia Pacific team, Trang tracks the evolution of TV and entertainment trends across the South East Asia territory.

Outside of work, Trang enjoys watching Asian dramas and variety shows.

Doug Wood

Analytics Associate

Douglas Wood has more than twenty years of experience in the media industry, in a career focused on television content and audience research across all genres and platforms. Doug started his career in television at Channel 4 in the UK before moving on to head up global research teams at Fremantle and Endemol Shine. During his research career he has worked across some of the most successful international TV formats in the world including Idols, Got Talent, The X Factor, Big Brother and MasterChef. Doug has a broad range of experience working across all areas of the TV content business from broadcasting to global production, format development and distribution.


James Conibear

Senior Researcher

James graduated from Edge Hill University in 2014 with a degree in Film and Television Production.

As a K7 Senior Researcher, James is focussed on developments across streaming services, Australasia and children’s TV. As well as contributing to bespoke research, he writes the Digital Daily Seven newsletter, the weekly Australasian Report and the monthly Children’s Update.

Outside of K7, James is a passionate wildlife photographer, and spends much of his time in the countryside on the lookout for the perfect shot. He's also a keen cinema goer, gamer and aquarist.

John Brown

Senior Researcher

John has always had a keen eye for all things media, graduating from Edge Hill University in 2014 with a degree in Film and Television Production.

John first joined the K7 team in 2017 to oversee the company’s video archive; enabling colleagues and clients to access a rich variety of global TV and digital content. Now, John oversees both the monthly VOD Watch Report and curates the Factual Quicklist. He also contributes to the Digital Daily Seven and helps with bespoke projects for clients.

John’s passion for all things music means he’s either out-and-about at gigs and festivals, or at home making his own tunes. Whilst not a professional performer himself, John also proudly holds the title of K7’s Karaoke King, at least for now…

Dean Thornhill

Senior Researcher

Dean joined K7 after graduating from the University of Chester with a degree in Sociology and Criminology.

Dean specialises in digital research, co-curating K7’s monthly Digital Quicklist showreel as well as writing the Creators Corner section of the VOD Watch report, tracking the YouTube talent making waves on the platform with anything from innovative formats, to trend-setting viral videos. His other tasks include overseeing K7’s extensive internal database and providing bespoke reports for clients.

Madeleine Coogan

Trends & Intelligence Executive

Born and raised in Manchester, Madeleine has been part of the K7 family since 2017. A key member of our unscripted research team, Madeleine delivers bespoke requests for clients.

A lover of all things European, Madeleine studied Hispanic Studies and Business Management at the University of Sheffield and has lived and worked in France, Spain and Poland.

Outside of work, Madeleine enjoys travelling, yoga, meeting new people, and is an avid fan of The Eurovision Song Contest.

Hester Ireland

Briefings and Research Executive

Hester graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a degree in History in 2017 and from Goldsmiths with a master's in Media and Communications in 2020. After working at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for two years as a Communications Assistant, she joined K7 as a Briefings and Research Executive, focusing on European and North American scripted television.

Outside of work Hester enjoys cooking food, eating food and exploring local cinemas.

I-rin Intrasena

Researcher

Born in Thailand but raised in the UK, I-Rin joined K7 Media in 2021 after graduating with a master’s degree in Intercultural Communication from the University of Manchester.

As a Researcher, I-Rin assists with the weekly UK and North America Unscripted Reports, and the monthly Asia Report. I-Rin also contributes to bespoke projects and reports for clients.

I-Rin speaks Thai, Korean, and English, and is currently studying Japanese. Outside of K7, I-Rin enjoys reading, drawing, and watching Asian dramas and TV shows– especially anime!

Molly Warnke

Researcher

Molly joined K7 in 2021 after graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University with an undergraduate degree in English Literature & Creative Writing. As a Researcher, she delivers bespoke projects and reports for clients specialising in Factual and Unscripted, as well as curating the monthly newsletter and LatAm Report.

Unsurprisingly, she enjoys reading and writing poetry & fiction in her spare time. Outside of the office you can find her at music gigs and record shops.

Grace Barfoot

Researcher

Grace joined the K7 Team in 2023 after completing a master’s degree In Visual Anthropology from the University of Manchester. As a researcher, she contributes to bespoke projects and reports for clients.

Outside of work, Grace enjoys hiking, photography, and live music. Combining her passions for videography, experiencing different cultures, and asking people too many questions, she also hopes to produce her own documentary shorts one day soon.

Jamie Brown

Researcher

Jamie graduated from University College London in 2014 with a degree in French and Russian. He then moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he worked as a translator for two years.

At K7, Jamie edits the CEE Report and the French section of the European Report, as well as subtitling showreel clips from French and Russian.

Outside of his work Jamie spends a lot of time listening to and thinking about music.

Trudy Akobeng

Researcher

Trudy studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Goldsmiths, University Of London and started at K7 in December 2018. In K7, she compiles bespoke and client specific reports.

Outside of work, Trudy plays the piano and loves to visit new places.

Alisha Smith

Administrative Assistant

Alisha joined K7 in 2023 after graduating with a BA(Hons) in Film and Media at Manchester Metropolitan University. During her studies she developed practical skills in photography, podcasting and video editing. She is responsible for screening a vast variety of formats for clients and ensuring the smooth running of K7 behind the scenes.

Outside of work, she enjoys watching series with strong character development and intriguing plot lines, as well as attending anything live music-related!