Steve Dunlop

Founder and CEO of industry-first Dynamic Creative and Personalization startup for digital audio. A Million Ads provides dynamic audio advertising for users of podcast, digital radio and music streaming services in the UK, Europe and the US.

• Led growth from start-up to scale-up, growing revenue to $15.6m in 2024 with EBITDA of $5.1m, raising angel and seed rounds totalling over $5.5m
• Wrote the code for the first version of the tool before building a product and engineering team to scale. Led the integration of AI into the tool and pioneered a continuous integration and deployment methodology
• Built and led a team of over 100 in London and New York, prioritizing long-term value creation over short-term wins, and always pushing for product-market fit that resonated with customers

Leading the next phase of growth for the UK's largest commercial radio operator, owning the strategy that will transform the business into a fully digital music and entertainment publisher.

• Owned the roadmap for the next generation of mobile products including streaming services and audio advertising networks
• Deal making with adjacent industry players including Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, Universal Music, Apple, Warner Music
• Managed the investment and acquisition pipeline. Successful transactions include acquisition of international tech business and equity investment in global ad tech player
• Ran the Board's future scenario planning activity focusing on agile product development, digital music, digital audio advertising, and audience data

Consulting engagement with Media division of Intel, advising on strategy and product roadmap.

• Scaled the opportunity and guided the engineering team to incorporate social media features into revolutionary over-the-top cloud TV product
• Built the framework for growing a self-sustaining third-party developer ecosystem

Managing strategy projects with multiple stakeholders, clarifying and communicating complex issues to a broad audience across the BBC, including the Director General.

• Long term strategy development for BBC's interests in Connected TV and Video on Demand platforms including iPlayer, TiVo and YouView
• Developed the strategic direction for BBC's relationships with third party platforms Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media
• Managed the Delivering Quality First cost efficiencies programme for BBC Audio and Music

Director at social media advertising and data start-up.

• Directed engagements with key brands including The Guardian, LOVEFiLM, Channel 4, Burberry, and Phones4U
• Grew new business pipeline from 20 to over 100 companies
• Managed client services team of six account managers and executives

Senior Consultant with strategy consultancy combined with quantitative and qualitative research agency.

• Developed strategy for UK Commercial Radio to renegotiate music licensing deals
• Commercial Due Diligence of West End Theatre Ticket Agent resulting in £20m MBO
• Assisted CEO and Chairman of major UK TV broadcaster formulate game-changing regulatory strategy

• Operational control of commercial music radio stations
• Managed on-air schedule, selected music playlist, engaged with record industry, coached talent, generated sponsorship ideas, produced live outside broadcasts

• Responsible for all production on the station and part of the network imaging team

Boutique media and telecoms strategy consultancy.

• HD Television scenario planning for BBC; included channel migration timetable signed off by Director General
• Managed competitive tender for Vodafone UK's web content filtering system
• Strategy support for Siemens as they became the successful bidder for BBC's technology division
• Assessment of UK commercial radio sector for OFCOM to assist licence cost and renewal policy decisions

• Networking Software developer at IBM (Pre-University scheme)
• Lotus Notes web developer at NetInfo