A Managing Director and international Chief Marketing Officer with 20 years of managing a retail Film and TV content business across global markets.

1.
Melanie Nicholas
A Managing Director and international CMO who has achieved significant commercial success leading content businesses
using a combination of start-­‐up style entrepreneurialism, strategic and hands-­‐on leadership, consumer led marketing and
sales initiatives and big business cost control and process.
A qualified digital business leader and marketer, with extensive brand, sales and licensing experience. Adept at negotiating,
collaborating and partnering with third parties at CEO level. A senior deal-­‐maker quick to identify the key opportunities and
risks, to drive maximum profit.
A truly international operator with global business experience across all markets. Passionate about building sustainable
growth having worked for the world’s largest media company (Comcast). Experienced in financial planning and budget
setting across multiple territories, as well as creating digital marketing and sales assets for execution across many different
countries and markets.
EXECUTIVE ROLES
Managing Director 2015 – now
The Lighthouse Company -­‐ an interim MD role to enable the CEO (founder) to establish a sister office in the US. Responsible
for leading the day to day operations of TLC's Talent Management business, strengthening the company by introducing big
business process, digital marketing expertise, collaborative leadership and an established media owner network.
Project Everyone Organisation -­‐ partnering with the communications team, led by Richard Curtis, to launch the United
Nation's Global Goals, including an event (co-­‐hosted by The Gates Foundation) at the World Economic Forum, Davos.
NBC UNIVERSAL (a Comcast company)
International Chief Marketing Officer 2012 -­‐ 2014
Created and led the home entertainment retail marketing strategy for all territories outside the US, to achieve revenues of
$700m (2014). Devised annual budgets and drove monthly plans from weekly film releases to deliver financial results from 9
Opcos (eg. in Japan, Germany, France, UK, Australia) and 30 third party Licensees (eg. in Russia, Singapore, China, Brazil).
• Took Universal to top converting Hollywood Studio (ie highest retail sales from box office revenue) in 5 years.
• Created new approach to managing/ commercially exploiting retail film franchises, seen as best-­‐in-­‐class by trade.
• Devised the business strategy to celebrate Universal’s Centennial, creating new digital marketing assets (never seen in
the industry before) for the heart of the campaign. $40m incremental revenue achieved.
• Collaborated across NBCUniversal with all senior stakeholders and talent to ensure content was exploited fully across
all platforms (cinema, DVD/download and TV). Created and chaired the International Marketing Council for
NBCUniversal.
UNIVERSAL PICTURES INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT (a GE company)
Senior Vice President -­‐ International Sales, Marketing and Licensees 2007 -­‐ 2012
Responsible for heading up and leading all the commercial teams for UPIE, driving annual revenues of over $1 billion.
• Restructured Sales to build a customer-­‐centric team, adding consumer and industry analysts to improve market
expertise.
• Oversaw big customer/key retail deals (eg. Amazon, MediaMarkt, FNAC, Tesco) across all markets outside US/Canada.
• Drove Universal’s Net Promoter Score (from customers) from single to double digits, to best in industry in 5 years.

2.
Vice President -­‐ Licensees and Emerging Markets 2003 – 2007
Oversaw the distribution of Universal’s content in 50 different markets worldwide through 3rd
party distributors (30
Licensees).
• Took profit from $11m in 2003 to $50m in 2007 by re-­‐negotiating 30 annual content deals as well as totally re-­‐structuring
team, adding new talent and commercial processes.
• Opened Universal’s first office in Russia, became Regional Managing Director and took turnover to $20m in 3 years.
• Negotiated first studio deal with Warner Bros. to distribute Universal’s content in China
Managing Director – Universal Pictures UK 2000 -­‐ 2003
All round P+L responsibility for Universal Pictures UK, the home entertainment division of Universal Studios, reporting
directly into the Chairman.
• Increased revenue from £46m to £85m in 3 years.
• Motivated and led a team of 20 executives, introducing new ways of cross-­‐functional working.
• Attracted new artists to Universal through extensive networking in the talent community and sponsoring key gigs/
events
• Negotiated UK artist signings to produce video content worth £15m per year
POLYGRAM VIDEO
Marketing Manager/ Marketing Director 1992 -­‐ 2000
Marketed a portfolio of film, TV and comedy content for retail. Won 13 industry awards for marketing excellence.
Education
Academy of Digital Business Leaders Diploma in Digital Business leadership
Google /Squared On-­‐Line Diploma in Digital Marketing
Bristol Business School Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (First)
Bristol Business School Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma
Bristol Business School Market Research Society Diploma
University of West of England B.A. (Hons) Humanities
Contact Details
mobile: +44 7767 346638 Twitter: @melanienicholas
email: melanienicholas2@gmail.com Linked-­‐in: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/melanienicholas