Ben Payne
Worcester Park,Sutton
Summary
As a commercially-minded AV Account Director with over seven years of experience in the UK media landscape, I specialise in the strategic planning and delivery of high-impact, data-driven campaigns. Recently promoted to Account Director in July 2025, I bring a proven track record of managing the full campaign lifecycle for some of the UK’s largest charity and retail brands. I possess existing and exceptionally strong relationships across all major UK media sales houses, which allows me to negotiate best-in-market rates and secure unique brand partnerships.
I am a clear thinker who thrives in fast-moving, independent agency environments where personal accountability and "brand-side DNA" are paramount. My expertise spans the entire funnel, from diagnosing complex client briefs to executing sophisticated strategies across TV and BVOD. With an advanced-level mastery of Media Ocean and a commitment to operational excellence, I ensure that every media investment is precisely optimised to exceed client KPIs and drive measurable business growth.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
AV Account Director
Medialab Group
London, London
2025.07 - Current
- Scaled Agency Growth: Established as a core member of the team that grew agency TV billings from £400k in 2018 to over £100m in 2025.
- Financial Stewardship: Oversee and manage approximately £5m in monthly revenue, ensuring commercial accountability and alignment with client business objectives.
- Commercial Negotiation: Negotiated consistently with sales houses to waive late booking charges, resulting in significant cumulative savings for clients throughout my career.
- Account Ownership: Lead strategic client relationships, providing expert insight into the UK media landscape and identifying incremental value within TV and BVOD plans.
- Operational Excellence: Performed high-level campaign oversight, ensuring precise execution and reporting while mentoring the wider AV team to maintain industry-leading standards.
- Strategic Planning: Diagnosed complex client briefs to deliver sophisticated AV strategies that drive measurable outcomes for major UK brands.
Senior AV Manager
Medialab Group
London
2022.08 - 2026.03
- Owner of day to day communication, displaying proactivity and leadership within everything I do. Delegating tasks to the rest of the team and ensuring they are emulating the AV teams ethos and ways of working.
- Skillful in diagnosing client briefs, proficient in negotiating and a strong understanding of the AV marketplace.
- Management of client planning team accounts. Including acting on strategic opportunities and providing insight and knowledge around any potential chances for incremental spend.
- Strong and valuable experience across all aspects of AV.
- Management of large scale AV campaigns, including the planning and delivery.
- Experienced with complex plans and execution strategies. Across DRTV, Branding and Online / Advances campaigns. Strong experience and knowledge across the Charity Sector, Financial Sector and Direct to Consumer / Retail.
- Advanced level Media Ocean Skills. Extremely proficient in all Daisy applications.
AV Manager
Medialab Group
London
2020.09 - 2022.08
- Strategic Client Planning: Diagnosed complex client briefs to develop and execute brand media plans across TV and BVOD, ensuring a clear link to business objectives.
- Large-Scale Delivery: Managed the planning and delivery of large-scale AV campaigns, including complex execution strategies for the Charity, Financial, and Retail sectors.
- Performance Optimisation: Identified strategic opportunities for incremental spend and value, providing expert insight to planning teams to over-deliver on client KPIs.
- Operational Leadership: Mastered the use of Mediaocean and all Daisy applications to ensure operational excellence across every stage of the campaign lifecycle.
Senior TV Executive
Medialab Group
London
2019.04 - 2020.09
- Portfolio Management: Orchestrated the daily delivery and performance of TV and BVOD campaigns for a diverse client roster, including key accounts in the charity and financial sectors.
- Campaign Optimisation: Increased client ROI by proactively monitoring airtime delivery and negotiating with sales houses to secure high-value "make-goods" and airtime improvements.
- Operational Leadership: Mentored junior TV Executives on Mediaocean best practices and established more efficient workflows for trafficking creative assets to ensure all deadlines were met.
TV Executive
Medialab Group
London
2018.04 - 2019.04
- Campaign Implementation: Executed the end-to-end booking and administration of TV and BVOD campaigns, ensuring 100% accuracy in a high-volume, fast-paced agency setting.
- Technical Proficiency: Developed advanced-level skills in Mediaocean and Daisy applications to manage spot matching, airtime shifts, and delivery tracking.
- Stakeholder Liaison: Established foundational relationships with sales houses to manage late bookings and resolve delivery queries, ensuring all client assets landed on time.
- Spearheaded major projects, yield significant improvements in efficiency and productivity .
Sales Agent
Complete Cover Group
Sunbury
2015.09 - 2016.09
- Developed and maintained strong customer relationships and networks within designated sales territory.
- Communicated product features, advantages, and benefits to customers.
- Worked with management teams to develop annual sales plans, goals, and targets.
- Analyzed sales data to adjust and improve sales strategies.
Education
Sixth Form - Media
Coombe Girls Sixth Form
New Malden07.2014
High School - GCSE History, Media, Drama, English, Maths.
Coombe Boys High School
New Malden08.2013
Skills
- Excellent Communicator
- Flexible
- Hard Working
- Strong Negotiation
- Advanced Level Media Ocean User
- Team Management
- Critical Thinker
- Leadership
- Strong use of Excel and all Microsoft Office applications
- Dependable
- Energetic
- Passionate
Certification
- TV Masters
- IPA Foundation Certificate
REFERENCES
References available upon request
CHARITY WORK
- Guide Dogs for the Blind, Fundraiser, 2022, I ran the London Marathon for Guide Dogs for the Blind in 2022.
- Diabetes UK, Fundraiser, 2019-12, My brother and I cycled 100 miles to raise money for Diabetes UK in December 2019.
Timeline
AV Account Director
Medialab Group
2025.07 - Current
Senior AV Manager
Medialab Group
2022.08 - 2026.03
AV Manager
Medialab Group
2020.09 - 2022.08
Senior TV Executive
Medialab Group
2019.04 - 2020.09
TV Executive
Medialab Group
2018.04 - 2019.04
Sales Agent
Complete Cover Group
2015.09 - 2016.09
Sixth Form - Media
Coombe Girls Sixth Form
High School - GCSE History, Media, Drama, English, Maths.
Coombe Boys High School