Anna Priest, the Senior Vice President and Head of Paramount+ for the UK and Ireland, played a pivotal role in the successful launch and rapid growth of the streaming service. Her efforts were instrumental in building the brand and expanding its subscriber base through strategic partnerships with major players like Sky, Three, and Virgin.
Before her tenure at Paramount+, Anna held senior marketing positions at A+E Networks, Britbox and Comic Relief. She cut her teeth and learned her craft at the BBC. She is a commercially savvy, results-driven business leader with a knack for launching and scaling products and brands. Her expertise lies in driving significant growth in complex organisations, while also inspiring, motivating, and unifying teams to deliver their best work and advance their careers.
In this week’s episode, we delve into Anna's experiences and the pivotal moments that shaped her: dealing with divorced parents, coping with the loss of a close friend, and making impactful changes in her career.
We discuss:
- Navigating life with divorced parents
- Moving from London to Blackpool
- Landing her first job opportunity at the BBC
- Meeting a special person at Radio 1
- Contributing to CBeebies, CBBC, BBC Three, and Comic Relief
- Managing burnout
- Advocating for equality in the workplace
- Understanding the significance of ‘treading water’ in your career
- Grieving the loss of a close friend
- Rising to SVP, Head of Paramount+ UK & Ireland Watch on YouTube
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Unity & Motion - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content Email: info@weunify.co.uk This is a UNIFY Podcast. Produced by Unity & Motion Credits: Director: Charles Parkinson Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie Editor: Catherine Singh
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:04:10) Yellowstone recommendation and childhood experiences
(00:08:41) Life in the North
(00:12:58) Life Changes and Moving Forward
(00:17:31) Navigating Relationships and Life Lessons
(00:22:12) From Children's TV Presenter to Media Planning
(00:26:18) From Media Planning to Marketing
(00:30:25) Falling in love and career progression
(00:34:34) Balancing Work and Life
(00:52:04) Remembering a Dear Friend
(01:01:04) Music and Laughter during Difficult Times
(01:05:48) Finding Healing and Moving Forward
(01:10:24) Finding Solace in Grief and Friendship
(01:14:42) Crossroads in Career
(01:18:44) Working at Paramount
(01:23:04) Transitioning to a General Manager Role
(01:27:09) Being Comfortable with Discomfort
(01:31:13) Running a Great Company and Weekly Business Review
(01:35:35) Taking Risks and Driving Momentum
(01:39:47) Prioritising Profitability and Balance in Parenting
(01:44:18) The Importance of Being Available for Your Children
(01:48:31) Exciting Shows and Spin-offs Coming Up
(01:52:50) The Web of Life