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Ashley Highfield

April 10, 2024

Ashley Highfield Is Chairman of Oyster Yachts Limited (since May 2018), makers of luxury British sailing boats. He is also founder of Henley Partners limited, his vehicle for investing in and advising businesses across a range of sectors. He is an Associate Director of Deloitte LLP. Between 2011 and 2018 he was CEO of Johnston Press Plc, owners of The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post, and (from April 2016) i in May 2018. He has also worked for Microsoft and the BBC as main board director responsible for New Media and Technology.

In June 2015 Culture Secretary John Whittingdale named Highfield as one of eight people on an advisory board tasked with working on the renewal of the BBC's royal charter - which sets out the corporation's remit.[1] In October 2015 he was appointed Chairman of the News Media Association, the trade body for the UK's newspaper industry. He has held a number of non-executive roles, most recently on the boards of William Hill plc (for 9 years between 2009 and 2018) and the British Film Institute (for 7 years between 2010 and 2017).

Career edit

Educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, and City University, London, Highfield joined Coopers & Lybrand, (now PwC) on graduation, working as a management consultant in the TMT sector for six years. In 1994 he returned to the UK to become head of IT and New Media for NBC Europe,[2] before joining Flextech - a pay-TV channel provider - where he worked for five years as director of interactive services.[3]

In October 2000 he joined the BBC as Director of New Media & Technology[2] working for Greg Dyke who said in his autobiography Inside Story[4] "Ashley is one of the most inventive people I know". Dyke also said "Ashley didn't have an easy task bringing all the BBC's online activity under one division, but he did it with great success".

In 2005, under new Director General Mark Thompson, Highfield retained his place on the new slimmed-down Executive Board and was given additional responsibility for Broadcast and Production technology across the BBC. In July 2006 the BBC reformed its structure, turning the New Media department into the Future Media & Technology department (including BBC's Information & Archives business) with Highfield at its head. During his tenure, Highfield oversaw a growth in the BBC's online presence from 3.5 million to 17 million users, and was responsible for the development and launch of BBC iPlayer.

In 2008 he commissioned the Digital Media Initiative, a tapeless production system. The project was axed in 2013 (some five years after Highfield left) at a cost of £100m after failing to deliver.[5]

At the time of his appointment to the BBC he was the youngest ever member of the organisation's Executive Board. His department was responsible for the BBC's internet presence - bbc.co.uk, interactive TV - BBC Red Button, mobile services, the BBC's technology portfolio and the BBC's Archive. At the BBC, Highfield claimed £47,000 in expenses between 2004 and 2009, while on a salary of £466,000; this included a subscription to Sky and two iPods.[6]

It was announced on 14 April 2008 that Highfield had been appointed the CEO of Project Kangaroo.[7] Kangaroo was a joint venture between BBC, ITV & Channel 4 offering an internet-based one stop shop for all TV programmes on-demand, which was halted by the Competition Commission. He left the project in November 2008, to work for Microsoft.[8] He was UK Managing Director of Microsoft (Consumer & Online), responsible for Windows Mobile, MSN, Hotmail, Windows Live/Instant Messenger and Bing.

Highfield was appointed CEO of Johnston Press in 2011.[9] In his first full year, Highfield earned a £400,000 salary, with bonuses and pension contributions of £301,000.[10]

In his first year the company reduced its workforce by almost a quarter as Highfield dealt with a legacy of massive debt. In May 2014 JP secured a significant refinancing deal to help put the company on a secure financial footing.[11]

Profile edit

He lives in central London and is divorced.

He held two non-executive roles – on the boards of William Hill and the British Film Institute.

Awards edit

In 2003 Highfield was awarded the Digital Innovator internet award by The Sunday Times who dubbed his vision of a 100% digital Britain a "tour de force". In 2004 he was named 'most influential individual in technology' by online technology news site Silicon.Com for overseeing a number of 'firsts' for a major broadcaster, including the use of peer-to-peer, interactive TV, and multi-casting of TV.[12] In 2007, The Guardian placed Highfield at #31 in its annual survey of the most powerful people in the UK media industry.[3]

In 2004, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts[13] and, in 2007, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ "Government selects panel to review the future of the BBC". BBC News. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b Ian Burrell (14 August 2006). . The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Ashley Highfield". MediaGuardian.co.uk. London. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  4. ^ Greg Dyke Inside Story pp. 178–9
  5. ^ "BBC suspends CTO after £100m is WASTED on doomed IT system". Theregister.co.uk. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  6. ^ Dowell, Ben (26 June 2009). "BBC expenses: Ashley Highfield claims £1,400 for Sky subscription". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  7. ^ "Ashley Highfield appointed as CEO of Kangaroo". BBC Worldwide Press Releases. 14 April 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  8. ^ Mason, Rowena (25 November 2008). "Microsoft poaches Ashley Highfield from BBC, Channel 4 and ITV joint internet venture". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
  9. ^ "Microsoft's Ashley Highfield appointed CEO of Johnston Press" Guardian 28 July 2011
  10. ^ "Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield gets £700,000 payout". BBC News. 28 March 2013.
  11. ^ . Archived from the original on 15 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  12. ^ . Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ . Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2007. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ . Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.

External links edit

  • Highfield's official BBC blog
  • The future is to move beyond DRM
  • BBC unveils radical revamp of website
  • DCMS review of the BBC's online service
  • Bobbie Johnson, The Guardian

April 10, 2024
ashley, highfield, chairman, oyster, yachts, limited, since, 2018, makers, luxury, british, sailing, boats, also, founder, henley, partners, limited, vehicle, investing, advising, businesses, across, range, sectors, associate, director, deloitte, between, 2011. Ashley Highfield Is Chairman of Oyster Yachts Limited since May 2018 makers of luxury British sailing boats He is also founder of Henley Partners limited his vehicle for investing in and advising businesses across a range of sectors He is an Associate Director of Deloitte LLP Between 2011 and 2018 he was CEO of Johnston Press Plc owners of The Scotsman The Yorkshire Post and from April 2016 i in May 2018 He has also worked for Microsoft and the BBC as main board director responsible for New Media and Technology In June 2015 Culture Secretary John Whittingdale named Highfield as one of eight people on an advisory board tasked with working on the renewal of the BBC s royal charter which sets out the corporation s remit 1 In October 2015 he was appointed Chairman of the News Media Association the trade body for the UK s newspaper industry He has held a number of non executive roles most recently on the boards of William Hill plc for 9 years between 2009 and 2018 and the British Film Institute for 7 years between 2010 and 2017 Contents 1 Career 2 Profile 3 Awards 4 References 5 External linksCareer editEducated at Elizabeth College Guernsey and City University London Highfield joined Coopers amp Lybrand now PwC on graduation working as a management consultant in the TMT sector for six years In 1994 he returned to the UK to become head of IT and New Media for NBC Europe 2 before joining Flextech a pay TV channel provider where he worked for five years as director of interactive services 3 In October 2000 he joined the BBC as Director of New Media amp Technology 2 working for Greg Dyke who said in his autobiography Inside Story 4 Ashley is one of the most inventive people I know Dyke also said Ashley didn t have an easy task bringing all the BBC s online activity under one division but he did it with great success In 2005 under new Director General Mark Thompson Highfield retained his place on the new slimmed down Executive Board and was given additional responsibility for Broadcast and Production technology across the BBC In July 2006 the BBC reformed its structure turning the New Media department into the Future Media amp Technology department including BBC s Information amp Archives business with Highfield at its head During his tenure Highfield oversaw a growth in the BBC s online presence from 3 5 million to 17 million users and was responsible for the development and launch of BBC iPlayer In 2008 he commissioned the Digital Media Initiative a tapeless production system The project was axed in 2013 some five years after Highfield left at a cost of 100m after failing to deliver 5 At the time of his appointment to the BBC he was the youngest ever member of the organisation s Executive Board His department was responsible for the BBC s internet presence bbc co uk interactive TV BBC Red Button mobile services the BBC s technology portfolio and the BBC s Archive At the BBC Highfield claimed 47 000 in expenses between 2004 and 2009 while on a salary of 466 000 this included a subscription to Sky and two iPods 6 It was announced on 14 April 2008 that Highfield had been appointed the CEO of Project Kangaroo 7 Kangaroo was a joint venture between BBC ITV amp Channel 4 offering an internet based one stop shop for all TV programmes on demand which was halted by the Competition Commission He left the project in November 2008 to work for Microsoft 8 He was UK Managing Director of Microsoft Consumer amp Online responsible for Windows Mobile MSN Hotmail Windows Live Instant Messenger and Bing Highfield was appointed CEO of Johnston Press in 2011 9 In his first full year Highfield earned a 400 000 salary with bonuses and pension contributions of 301 000 10 In his first year the company reduced its workforce by almost a quarter as Highfield dealt with a legacy of massive debt In May 2014 JP secured a significant refinancing deal to help put the company on a secure financial footing 11 Profile editHe lives in central London and is divorced He held two non executive roles on the boards of William Hill and the British Film Institute Awards editIn 2003 Highfield was awarded the Digital Innovator internet award by The Sunday Times who dubbed his vision of a 100 digital Britain a tour de force In 2004 he was named most influential individual in technology by online technology news site Silicon Com for overseeing a number of firsts for a major broadcaster including the use of peer to peer interactive TV and multi casting of TV 12 In 2007 The Guardian placed Highfield at 31 in its annual survey of the most powerful people in the UK media industry 3 In 2004 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts 13 and in 2007 a Fellow of the Royal Television Society 14 References edit Government selects panel to review the future of the BBC BBC News 12 July 2015 Retrieved 18 February 2016 a b Ian Burrell 14 August 2006 Ashley Highfield 99 per cent of the BBC archives is on the shelves We ought to liberate it The Independent London Archived from the original on 15 October 2007 Retrieved 11 October 2007 a b Ashley Highfield MediaGuardian co uk London 9 July 2007 Retrieved 11 October 2007 Greg Dyke Inside Story pp 178 9 BBC suspends CTO after 100m is WASTED on doomed IT system Theregister co uk 24 May 2013 Retrieved 18 February 2016 Dowell Ben 26 June 2009 BBC expenses Ashley Highfield claims 1 400 for Sky subscription The Guardian London Retrieved 25 April 2010 Ashley Highfield appointed as CEO of Kangaroo BBC Worldwide Press Releases 14 April 2008 Retrieved 14 April 2008 Mason Rowena 25 November 2008 Microsoft poaches Ashley Highfield from BBC Channel 4 and ITV joint internet venture The Telegraph London Retrieved 8 January 2009 Microsoft s Ashley Highfield appointed CEO of Johnston Press Guardian 28 July 2011 Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield gets 700 000 payout BBC News 28 March 2013 Johnston Press announces deal to defer 300 million debt repayment Press Gazette Archived from the original on 15 February 2014 Retrieved 2 February 2014 https web archive org web 20071217175247 http www silicon com research specialreports as2004 thelist no01 htm Archived from the original on 17 December 2007 Retrieved 4 December 2007 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help https web archive org web 20080227084211 http www rsa org uk acrobat council biographies pdf Archived from the original PDF on 27 February 2008 Retrieved 4 December 2007 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Royal Television Society Dinners Archived from the original on 28 November 2007 Retrieved 4 December 2007 External links editHighfield s official BBC blog BBC Backstage blog The future is to move beyond DRM BBC unveils radical revamp of website DCMS review of the BBC s online service Bobbie Johnson The Guardian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ashley Highfield amp oldid 1215333625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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