Industry Veteran Mike Whittaker has joined Telstra Broadcast Services (TBS) as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
The appointment follows the announcement of a strategic five-year partnership between TBS and BT’s Media and Broadcast Unit, made in November 2023. In his role, Whittaker will be responsible for managing the customer journey from solutions through delivery, including operational support. This means he will be responsible for solutions, integration/deployment, infrastructure and operations functions, helping TBS improve collaboration across the business and ensure consistent delivery as it continues to scale globally.
Telstra Broadcast Services CEO Andreas Eriksson said he was delighted to welcome Whittaker to the company.
“Mike is an accomplished C-level leader who has started and grown teams, worked to drive continuous improvement, integrated business units and disparate workflows, relocated businesses, and run the global operations for some of the largest organisations in the worldwide broadcast industry. Having lived and worked in the UK, Middle East and Asia, Mike brings the international outlook TBS was looking for in the next stage of our growth journey.”
Whittaker has held a variety of senior operations and technology executive roles at businesses on both the customer and vendor side, including a regional pay-TV broadcaster (OSN Middle East), global broadcaster (Fox APAC and MENA), betting industry leader (SIS/SIS Live), playout outsourcing provider (Technicolor), national broadcaster (The BBC), and start-up (Outernet).
Whittaker commented, “TBS is on a fascinating trajectory and in a great position to seize opportunities in a particularly dynamic global media and broadcast market. I’m delighted to join old and new colleagues on this journey.”
Part of the Australian telco Telstra, Telstra Broadcast Services initiated a global push four years ago.
