Matt Parkes Email and Phone Number

As Managing Director of the Stamps & Collectibles business, alongside overall accountability for all stamped and franked letters revenue I have full general management and P&L responsibility for a self-contained multi-million pound operation. Since my appointment, I have pivoted what was a unit in decline into a rapidly growing and sustainable IP licensing and collectibles business, significantly exceeding revenue and profit targets each year.I have developed and overseen the… Show more As Managing Director of the Stamps & Collectibles business, alongside overall accountability for all stamped and franked letters revenue I have full general management and P&L responsibility for a self-contained multi-million pound operation. Since my appointment, I have pivoted what was a unit in decline into a rapidly growing and sustainable IP licensing and collectibles business, significantly exceeding revenue and profit targets each year.I have developed and overseen the implementation of a new content strategy, acquiring major licenses including Transformers, Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, James Bond, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Only Fools & Horses, Blackadder, Iron Maiden, David Bowie, Queen, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey and the Spice Girls.I am a member of the Royal Mail Group Products Executive Board and am Chair of the Stamps Advisory Committee, whose members are selected for their specialist knowledge and outstanding achievement within their area of expertise. I also act as a key liaison with the government and Buckingham Palace. Show less

Having joined the Board of Directors in May 2022, I was elected Chair in February 2024. Affirming Catholicism is a charity promoting affirming, inclusive Anglo-Catholic theology and practice across the Anglican Communion. I also have specific responsibility for the oversight of Affirming Catholics in Synod, one of the largest interest groups in the Church of England's General Synod.

In the first half of 2015 I took a career break and studied the "Merchandising in the Entertainment Business"​ module of the University of Westminster's LLM in Entertainment Law to further deepen my legal knowledge in this area.

Founded by Martha Lane Fox, Lucky Voice is the number one supplier of digital karaoke music solutions in the UK. The company has a growing software licensing arm and an On Demand app-based subscription business, both of which I ran.

CPLG is Europe's largest entertainment licensing agency. As a member of the senior management team I was personally responsible for delivering a significant percentage of all agency revenue by aggressively developing and strategically growing income derived from the agency’s largest client - Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products - across mainland Europe.

For an interim management assignment, I developed and oversaw the launch of Video On Demand television content on Xbox Live Video Marketplace across key European markets. Responsibilities included developing a launch proposition and roadmap, agreeing content selections with film studios and other content owners, working closely with the content acquisitions team and curating the launch content schedule.

In January 2011, following the buyout of Virgin Media Television, BSkyB asked me back to deliver two major new Video on Demand propositions as a result of the recommendations I had made in early 2010. Key responsibilities included developing long-term strategy, including budgeting, consumer research, branding, content focus, pricing, implementation and marketing. These services were subsequently launched as the Sky Store.

As a freelance member of the senior management team I set up the consumer products and brand licensing function from a blank sheet of paper, managing the commercial exploitation of television content and channel brands. Key areas of responsibility included developing an exploitation strategy and budget, planning and directly negotiating deals for product licensing, live events, product placement and advertiser-funded programming.

In undertaking an interim management position, I advised on strategy and product proposition for Sky’s on-demand Box Office service, which led to a step change in focus and a re-positioning. I also undertook a comprehensive customer analysis for both Sky Movies and Sky Sports, input into loyalty strategy and developed a model to measure customer commitment for all premium Sky packages.

Managing a team of Product and Brand Managers, I led the growth of the television category on DVD and digital. As a key member of the Editorial Committee, I wrote business cases for content acquisitions and ensured content maximised brand and commercial potential. Most notably, I masterminded a five year investment plan for BBC Worldwide for Doctor Who, which helped the programme to return to television screens with Christopher Eccleston in the lead role in 2015 after a lengthy hiatus.

During my tenure, Celador’s most well-known television property was Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, which became the biggest television brand in the world. I was responsible for negotiating consumer product licensing deals in over twenty countries and agreeing licensors' release strategies and marketing plans. I also brokered on-air sponsorship deals, managed third party promotions and developed key relationships with international broadcasters. I played a key role in growing the company to… Show more During my tenure, Celador’s most well-known television property was Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, which became the biggest television brand in the world. I was responsible for negotiating consumer product licensing deals in over twenty countries and agreeing licensors' release strategies and marketing plans. I also brokered on-air sponsorship deals, managed third party promotions and developed key relationships with international broadcasters. I played a key role in growing the company to become the most profitable in the country, and many of my licensed products were international bestsellers and the fastest-selling ever in many territories. Show less

As Marketing Executive I set up and ran MVC’s marketing department. During my time there the company became the fastest growing entertainment retailer in the country, and I transformed the marketing department into a profit centre.