K7 Media

K7 Media

Meet our team

The K7 board

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’.

The Management Team

Ella Turner

Client Manager

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

As Client Manager, 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. Ella is planning on dipping her toe into the world of interior design this year– we expect she’ll be redecorating the K7 office in no time.

David Ciaramella

Communications Manager

David has been with K7 since 2013, after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University.

As Communications Manager, David helps to introduce new subscribers to K7 services, as well as aiding the K7 team on client research tasks, and providing additional support to existing clients with updates on developments across the TV and video landscape. David regularly travels to markets and to visit clients around the world, presenting on trends with a focus on unscripted formats, factual programming, and digital platforms.

David is an outdoor enthusiast, and in his free time he can be found venturing off into the wilderness on wild camping trips. David also really enjoys cooking and finding new foods to pickle, cure, or ferment– he even hosts kimchi classes!

David regularly travels to markets and to visit clients around the world, presenting on trends with a focus on unscripted formats, factual programming, and digital platforms.

Richard O’Meara

Insight Manager

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

Asia Pacific Manager

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 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

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.

Hannah Barnes

Australasian Consultant

Hannah joined K7 in June 2020 from Australian channel group Foxtel, where she was the Group General Manager for Foxtel's linear, SVOD, BVOD and digital platforms.

With over 20 years’ industry experience, Barnes has enjoyed an extensive career working across the UK, US, and Australian media markets, including time spent working for Sky and Channel 5 in London.

Based in Melbourne, Hannah is fundamental to K7's offering across the Australasia region.

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.

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 focusses on developments across the digital video and children’s TV spaces. As well as contributing to bespoke research, James oversees the Digital Daily Seven newsletter, and writes the weekly Australasian Report and monthly Children’s Update. James also curates our Digital Quicklist and Kidslist showreels.

You may be unsurprised to hear that James is a keen cinema goer, but he is also an avid photographer, gamer, and practising aquarist– sounds fishy if you ask us…

Trang Nguyen

Senior Researcher

Born and raised in Vietnam, Trang moved to the UK to pursue a master’s degree in Business Psychology from the University of Manchester.

As a member of K7’s Asia Pacific team, Trang tracks the evolution of TV and entertainment trends across Asia territory. Trang has also recently expanded her knowledge into the Middle East and North Africa region, overseeing K7’s MENA Monthly Updates. She also curates the Asia Monthly Quicklist, as well as helping with the Entertainment Quicklist.

Outside of work, Trang enjoys creating her Vietnamese fusion recipes, and checking out new restaurants across Manchester.

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…

Patti Linnett

Senior Researcher

Patti joined K7 in the spring of 2019, after graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in History.

Patti works closely on both the weekly European and North American Scripted reports, as well as helping to curate K7’s monthly Scriptlist, and contributing to bespoke projects for clients. Patti also travels to markets and delivers presentations to clients.

Outside of work, Patti can be found in the spotlight– either singing in a choir or performing in an AmDram play. Patti also enjoys reading, hiking, and yoga, and is currently learning Spanish.

Dean Thornhill

Senior Researcher

Dean joined the K7 team in 2018 and has a degree in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Chester.

Specialising in digital research, Dean co-writes our Digital Daily Seven newsletter and curates K7’s monthly Digital Quicklist showreel. Dean also writes the Creators Spotlight, which highlights social media stars making waves online with anything from innovative formats to trend-setting viral videos. Outside of the digital space, Dean writes our monthly Sports Spotlight– highlighting notable sporting news– and works with the scripted team, co-authoring the weekly Scripted UK Report and showcasing K7’s picks of the top global dramas and comedies of the month in the Scriptlist showreel. Dean also contributes to bespoke projects– particularly anything concerning the digital or sporting worlds.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, outside of work Dean can be found catching up on TV and crafting his perfect algorithm.

Niamh Frain

Business Affairs

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 Business Affairs to the CEO and Management Board, charged with the smooth running of K7 behind the scenes.

Outside of work, Niamh enjoys gardening, cooking and keeping active.

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!

Grace Barfoot

Junior 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.

Molly Warnke

Junior Researcher

Molly joined K7 in 2021 after graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University with an undergraduate degree in English Literature & Creative Writing. As a Junior Researcher, she delivers bespoke projects and reports for clients, as well as curating the monthly newsletter. She also contributes to the monthly World Drama and LatAm reports.

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.

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. Trudy compiles bespoke reports, client specific reports and assists with both the weekly UK Unscripted report and North American Unscripted report. She also helps curate K7’s monthly Entertainment Quicklist.

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

Madeleine Coogan

Researcher

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.