Darren Childs

Darren Childs is a member of the Advisory Board of Antenna Group and an advisor to CVC Capital Partners. He was most recently the CEO of Premiership Rugby UK. He was previously the CEO of UKTV, a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, which he joined in 2010. His achievements at the network include the positioning of UKTV as the UK’s fastest growing commercial television network of 2012, committing to investment of over £100m a year in content, launching five new HD channels, creating the number one programme in Pay TV with Dynamo: Magician Impossible and running the UK’s number one channels in both the Lifestyle and Factual genres. Mr. Childs was also at the forefront of UKTV’s Video On Demand (VOD) strategy. UKTV’s channels were the first to join BT Vision’s television service, and are now a part of TalkTalk on YouView.

Before starting at UKTV, Mr. Childs was Managing Director of BBC Worldwide Global Channels, where he was responsible for growing and managing the BBC’s extensive channels business, both domestically and internationally, as well as advertising sales across this portfolio and digital media. Under his four year leadership, BBC Worldwide Channels achieved dramatic expansion and enjoyed its most successful year in 2009/2010, with record sales and profits. During this time, he was a member of BBC Worldwide’s Board and Executive Committee Team and also sat on the UKTV Board.

Prior to BBC Worldwide, Mr. Childs was Senior Vice President, International Networks for Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI), EMEA. Before that, he spent several years in Asia, first as Director of Programming for MTV Asia and then as Director of Business Development at Channel V (part of the STAR TV platform). He also sat on the non-executive board for HBO Europe. His television career began as Head of Programming for BSkyB’s The Power Stat.