NICHOLAS CLAXTON
Dubai [UAE] and UK based. Nationality: British
Phone: + (971-****-*** 416 +(44-783*-****** : Email:
acyrgi@r.postjobfree.com
Visionary and entrepreneurial business leader offering over 25 years'
international experience in broadcasting, digital media, branding and multi-
media communications.
Strong management and interpersonal skills. Adherence to good governance
and risk- management. A high-achiever, highly motivated with a 'can-do'
personality and excellent personal connections across multiple sectors
developed over a broad-ranging career in international media.
CAREER HISTORY
CEO & Founding WOW Media Group Jan 2015 - Nov 2016
Partner
Advertising and creative communications agency based in Dubai - United Arab
Emirates
Spearheading the vision and formation of WMG in a new market place.
Responsible for the day-to-day running of the business using excellent
interpersonal skills to resolve multiple (human
resources, legal, cultural, financial, operational) issues while motivating
staff to peak performance.
Responsibilities
. Development of strategy and mission
. Implementation of the above with confidence & vigour.
. Targeting and conversion of new business and managing commercial
relationships across the UAE & GCC.
. Overseeing company presentations and pitches across multi-sectoral
platforms.
. Reporting on company performance to investors, delivery of corporate
and commercial objectives and business expenditure to the Board.
Spearheaded a new 24/7 entertainment Satellite TV Channel and publishing
model across the GCC. Responsibilities
. To recruit and lead international team to devise EMM's business
plan.
. To secure strategic investment from the USA and Europe
. To establish core USPs and comprehensive digital media strategy
while considering target audience, commercial, editorial, financial
and business planning, programming, advertising, sponsorship and
marketing.
. To recruit and manage UK/UAE based Channel investment advisors.
. To deliver all presentations to potential EMM investors from USA,
Europe and the Gulf/MENA region.
Milestones
Negotiated multimillion-dollar channel investment from Europe and USA.
Managing Director Elaph Publishing Sept 2010 - Sept
2013
Established in 2001 by editor-in-chief Othman al-Omeir. Elaph was the
premier online news- paper in the Arab world with 1M+ unique users a month
across Gulf/MENA region, Europe and USA
Responsibilities
. Management of a staff of 50+ with focus on increasing readership,
revenues and profile.
. To expand the company's digital media presence
. To monitor and drive operating costs and efficiencies across the
company.
Milestones
. Increased traffic (unique users) to Elaph by approximately 25%.
. Enhanced Elaph's editorial profile internationally as well as in
MENA region.
. Implemented new, cutting edge and content-driven marketing
strategies as well as website technology and digital
opportunities.
. Facilitated new sales strategy.
. Established key business partnerships in the UK and Gulf region.
.
Created, launched and managed a global web TV channel dedicated to
exploring the mysteries and marvels of the world's oceans. Subsequently
sold to Babelgum - the free-to-view internet television platform.
Responsibilities
. Implementation and execution of business plan leading to Web TV
launch.
. Recruitment of staff around the world for production of monthly
video content programme.
. Establishment of key partnerships, monetisation of content and
driving of traffic to UWC site within Babelgum
. Reporting to the Board on company performance, deliver on corporate
objectives and business expenditure to the Board.
.
Milestones
* Successful launch and management of UWC to become the go-to Channel
for divers.
. Successful monetisation of video content through advertising and
sponsorship taking users to 1.1m in 12 months.
. Established key partnerships with publications, international
broadcasters, advertisers and sponsors on and offline leading to
online advertising sales.
OR Media - a leading UK production company producing high quality
television programs and award-winning films for major international broad-
casters.
Responsibilities
. Managing commercial leadership role and overseeing all production
and broadcasting operations of ORM to secure high quality Television
commissions with UK and international broadcasters.
. Built, lead, developed and managed a world class team to grow the
business
. Negotiated and oversaw all contractual agreements - ensuring full
adherence to all broadcast compliance and regulatory proce- dures.
. Review and control all company expenditure, programme budgets and
delivery to Broadcasters
Milestones
. Secured a number of medium to large-scale broadcast commissions
leading to strong editorial output and commercial sales.
. Expanded company profile with inclusion of key UK and US
broadcasters, including Discovery and National Geographic
channels.
SUMMARY CORE COMPETENCIES
* Entrepreneurial Drive ? Strong communicational, organisational
skills and expertise ? Financial Management and Project Budgeting ?
* Risk Mitigation ? Strong multi-cultural empathy and International
work experience * * Multi-media and digital expertise
* Highly-networked and successful in achieving goals across multi-media
businesses, investments and award-winning projects
* Expertise across convergent sectors of communications, entertainment
and digital media.
* Possessing cultural empathy gained through extensive management
experience in building and leading successful multicultural teams..
Strong expertise and working knowledge of Gulf / MENA market.
* Strategic Planning - at EMM handled role from ground up to spearhead
the launch of a 24/7 satellite entertainment and Web TV Channel in the
Middle East, while putting together the
management team and closing investment requirements. Led
conceptualisation, the Channel USPs, evaluation of competitive
advantage, profile analysis, market research and itemising KRAs for each
team. Played a pivotal role in partnering with key potential
financial investors /advisors in the international market for supporting
overall vision of the channel globally. Heading meetings and
presentations for securing large investments.
* Personal Development - Pragmatic leader constantly striving for
perfection. Trustee of a major charitable organisation using
exceptional skills in strategising and implementing policy for
fundraising purposes. Strong believer in maintaining transparency
and accountability at
work.
* Digital and Multichannel Broadcast - Directing, Producing and Exec
Producing commissions with renowned cable and satellite companies
(terrestrial/digital) BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Disney,, National
Geographic, A+E Network, MBC, among others. Comprehensive
understanding of multimedia strategies.
* Successful Networking - Proactively creating opportunities leveraging
high-profile network, built over time, including numerous celebrities,
high net-worth individuals and corporates.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS
. International Emmy Academy Award - for Outstanding Background
Analysis of a single current story
. Cable Ace Award
. George Foster Peabody Award
. Grand Trophy & Gold Medal Winner @ New York International Film
Festival
Languages: French speaking (conversational) and
written Responsibilities & Membership
* Currently on the Editorial Advisory Board of two publications owned
by GMS in India
* A Founding Trustee of the London based Charity - Elephant Family
along with Mark Shand, Lord Robin Russell, Caroline Casey and Dugal
Muller
* Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society.
* Writer of a number of articles for major publications
Summary of Major Television Programs & Awards
As a Director, Producer & Executive Producer, Nicholas is also the
recipient of many numerous international program awards including an
International Emmy and the coveted George Foster Peabody Award for his
acclaimed program on the Ethiopian famine. Nicholas has extensive working
experience in the USA, India, the Middle East, Africa & the Far East.
. SUFFER THE CHILDREN for the BBC was an expose on the detention and
torture of children in South Africa. Nicholas was banned from return-
ing to the country but later returned after Nelson Mandela became
President.
. APARTHEID'S ASSASSINS for Channel 4, unearthing members of the South
African death squads. Winner of Grand Trophy and Gold Medal at the
New York International Film and Television Festival in 1990
. THE PRICE OF PROGRESS, presented by BOB GELDOF. This film, for ITV,
was given a special screening at the United States Senate and winner
of the AFVA Red Ribbon Award.
. His Emmy Award-winning film CRY ETHIOPIA CRY, was the first major
documentary to alert the world to the Ethiopian famine. Winner of
coveted George Foster Peabody Award.
. THE GREEN REVOLUTIONARY for Channel 4 with visionary
environmentalist Edward Goldsmith's. Filmed in India, South Ameri-
ca, Europe and USA.
. FRONTLINE - QUEENIE FLETCHER - a compelling account of how the
mother of murdered policewoman Yvonne Fletcher trav- elled to Libya
to meet Colonel Gadaffi in an attempt to get justice.
. LINDA McCARTNEY - BEHIND THE LENS . Made for BBC's flagship ARENA
with the Beatles' Paul McCartney. This 60-minute television
documentary won the prestigious Cable Ace Award - Best Film for
International/Cultural/Performing Arts/Theatrical/ Music Special
. WINNIE MANDELA & THE MISSING WITNESS. A primetime Special for BBC.
This was broadcast on BBC1 and South Africa's SABC-TV
simultaneously. Finalist Award - Best News Documentary Special -
New York International TV Festival 1997.
INSIDE SADDAM'S IRAQ - Executive Producer on 4 x 1 hour TV docs made for
the BBC and MC. A Series of bold, investigative documentaries with high
production values and strong journalistic involvement. Each program set out
to uncover the past 30 years of the country's history and expose the often
appalling nature of life under Saddam Hussein's rule using a mix of
compelling human interest stories, original material and archive footage.
. THE RHYTHM OF LIFE, a major 3 part series for BBC1/Buena Vista about
music and the role it plays in all our lives. Presented by Sir
George Martin, the former Beatles producer featuring Sir Paul
McCartney, Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin,
Quincy Jones, Brian May, Noel Gallagher, Brian Wilson, among many
others.
Among many others...
May 2012 - Nov 2014
CEO EMM Broadcasting, London and UAE
Managing Director The Underwater Channel
Oct 2008 - May 2010
Managing Director OR Media
Apr 2004 - May 2007
4
Nicholas Claxton Email: acyrgi@r.postjobfree.com
1
Nicholas Claxton Email: acyrgi@r.postjobfree.com