Creativity, Technology & The Bottom Line

Since 2004 Chris Thompson has worked in the music industry defining and managing roll out of consumer engagement and retail solutions. As founding Director of DA Recordings Ltd he won 4 UKTI Creative Industries Awards in 3 consecutive years and in 2006 was shortlisted for the O2 Arena Entrepreneur of The Year award. Chris has delivered successful campaigns for Sigur Rós, Radiohead, Dame Shirley Bassey and Pink Floyd and music loyalty incentives for international brands including Nintendo, Associated News and NatWest/RBS.

From 1996 - 2004 Chris worked as a business development executive in the technology sector. During this time he became a specialist in public and private networks creatively applying IT solutions to manage information flow, streamline organisational structure and to develop new market opportunities.

Awards

● UKTI Creative Industries Special Achievement Award - 2008
● UKTI Creative Industries Outstanding Innovation Award - 2007
● UKTI Creative Industries Outstanding Business Development Award - 2007
● Arena O2 Entrepreneur of The Year Award - 2006 (short listed finalist)
● UKTI Creative Industries Most Promising Business Start-Up - 2005

History

2009 - 2010 Director of Business Development, Digital Animal Ltd
At Digital Animal Chris took overall responsibility for client management, channel development and software specification. www.digitalanimal.com

2004 - 2009 Managing Director, DA Recordings Ltd
After appearing on BBC2‘s Dragons Den Chris founded DA Recordings Ltd in October 2004 to capitalise on the perceived threat that the Internet presented to the music industry. He had full responsibility for every aspect of the business employing a team of 8 and managing an outsourced software development team of a further 8 people. Chris developed the business during the recession securing over £400k in seed capital investment and building a projected annual turnover of over £1.8m based on the direct to consumer retail model. DA executed successful campaigns for independently distributed acts as well as major record labels becoming preferred suppler to EMI Music. The company worked directly with artist management teams and key stakeholders adding significant value to campaigns by creatively extending their marketing and commerce solutions to high street brands via music loyalty incentives. After EMI’s takeover by Terra Firma in late 2007 Thompson successfully coordinated the sale of the assets of DA Recordings and its rebrand to Digital Animal in 2009.

2002 - 2004 Business Development Manager, Your Communications (now Thus)
Responsible for an annual business development target of £2.6m selling ISP and Telecommunications services to in the public and private sectors.

2000 - 2002 Broadband Consultant, OnCue (now Bulldog Broadband)
Targeted to secure broadband connections, virtual private network, router, Voice Over IP, PBX switch and call centre solution sales.

1997 - 1999 Account Manager, Cable and Wireless Communications
Sales and marketing role positioning CWC’s portfolio of mobile, fixed line telecoms and Internet access products within an account base of 500 SME’s.

Interests

"I’m interested in ethical business models. I subscribe to relevant news feeds as a source of information and inspiration."

Thompson recently established www.whodofthoughtit.com as a creative community blog and channel to incubate creative concepts. He pursues a handful of creative writing projects and as a proud farther has inevitably started on a series of children’s books!

Education

1993 - 1996 BA (Hons.) Commercial Music, University of Westminster
1992 - 1993 Post A-Level Media, Blackburn College
1987 - 1988 BTEC in Audio Engineering, Salford College
1986 - 1987 BTEC Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Blackburn College