Claire McArdle
Co-CEO

Claire is an Emmy award-winning creative executive who has worked extensively across broadcast and digital platforms in a number of genres.

Prior to founding Collective Media Group with Rebecca Knight, she was the Managing Director and Chief Creative Officer of OTRO. In a career spanning two decades, Claire has held senior executive positions at Viacom International, Channel 4 and All3Media-owned Maverick Television, and delivered International Emmy, BAFTA, RTS and Broadcast award-winning content. She has frequently developed and mentored emerging talent both on and off screen. She is an avid football fan, and is a passionate historian, holding a PhD in nineteenth century ecclesiastical history.

Rebecca Knight
Co-CEO

Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in content production and live events. Prior to founding Collective Media Group with Claire McArdle, she was Vice President of Production and Business Affairs for ViacomCBS International.

In her career Rebecca has produced intimate A-list music gigs through to 36,000+ arena events, and delivered award-winning films and BAFTA award-winning programming. Experienced across factual, reality, and scripted, Rebecca has a true passion for business and production and strongly believes in supporting new talent and creating meaningful partnerships on and off screen.

Matt Wilkinson
Creative Director

Matt is a BAFTA award-winning executive producer and showrunner with over 15 years experience in the industry who has produced and / or developed huge entertainment formats such as I’m A Celebrity, A League Of Their Own, The X Factor and Soccer Aid.

With an unrivalled network of contacts in both sports and entertainment, Matt heads up Collective Media Sport, and is the first port of call for rights holders who are looking to modernise and refresh their content, as well as help them develop and launch new formats, working with the likes of The Ryder Cup, FIFA, Chelsea FC and The European Legends Tour.

Karen Willis
Director of Development

Karen brings over 20 years of TV experience to Collective Media Group. She started out as a production secretary at the BBC, going on to develop ideas and produce across documentaries, features and factual entertainment formats before departing for a commissioning role at Discovery Networks.

Development is her passion and Karen has led creative teams at a range of production companies including Whizz Kid Entertainment and Pioneer Productions. Whether helping people find love, make money, packing the brave off for extreme adventures, getting under the skin of the human body, to racing the eclipse with an astronaut, her career has rarely seen a dull moment.

Arianna Perretta
Producer

Arianna is a Producer and Director with over a decade of experience and a keen interest in telling engaging human stories.

She has developed and produced a broad range of projects including documentaries, reality shows, travelogues, factual entertainment formats, animation, digital content and ads for major broadcasters and brands. Arianna’s experience gives her excellent eye for a story, strong editorial judgement, a tenacious approach to gaining access, and solid story-telling skills.

Her proficiency in five languages and cultural awareness allow Arianna to set up complex shoots all over the world, as well as gaining and maintaining access to world famous sporting talent.

Poppy Taylor
Development Producer

Poppy has worked across some of the UK’s top TV shows, including The One Show, Children in Need, The X Factor and the BAFTA-nominated Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the BBC. She has worked in newsrooms around the globe, breaking some of the world’s biggest stories and produced and directed numerous shoots with high-profile talent throughout Europe and the UK. She also worked abroad in Australia, producing a medical documentary about ground-breaking surgery, which won an international science award.

Poppy’s passion for telling engaging human interest stories creates compelling television. Her natural curiosity means she never misses a beat and her approach to finding contributors and gaining access is unshakeable.

Shona Hurpaul
Financial Controller

Shona heads up the Finance team at Collective Media Group and supports across the company’s operations.

After studying the art of accountancy, she spent a number of years working in London heading up and managing finance teams for creative agencies and outdoor media sellers. Shona then went on to freelance as a Financial Consultant for SMEs, providing services like system reviews, software implementation and interim cover, across a number of industries such as software development, real estate, brand development and production. When she isn’t working, Shona will likely be off globe-trotting or enjoying a music festival.