Simon Cole

Simon brings 25 years of executive leadership to 7digital, having led UBC Media as a public company for over a decade. After studying Drama at Manchester University, Simon joined the BBC for his initial training in the radio medium. He moved rapidly to commercial radio, joining Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio in 1983. In 1987, after he predicted the emergence of an independent production sector, the board of Piccadilly Radio plc asked him to setup just such an operation, PPM airwaves. The company went on to establish the market for sponsored networked programmes. In 1989, Simon left to found The Unique Broadcasting Company which became the market leader in both the production of network radio programmes for commercial radio throughout the UK and BBC Radio. In 2000, Unique floated on the London Stock Exchange as part of UBC Media Group plc with Simon as Chief Executive. UBC Media were leaders in content production and software development for the global radio and online communities. During his time as Chief Executive for UBC Media, Simon oversaw the acquisition of several production companies in both London and Manchester and drove the Company’s move into new online platforms. He was a director for Audioboo and continues to hold a seat on the Board of Audioboom.