Commercial & Market Strategy Director B2B Media, Marketing and Supply Chains

Improving revenue, margins, market position and responsible business practices

MBA | CIM Fellow | Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership | Board Trustee: Berkshire Vision | RBWM Climate Partnership Steering Group

e | gavin@gavinmiller.co

m | 07884 000848

A Simple, Focused Business Model Framework

Inspired by Richard Koch's Simply Strategy, I use a straightforward framework of 10 key questions to help you focus on what matters most. This framework strengthens your commercial strategy while integrating responsible business practices that reduce risk and create competitive advantage.

  1. What is our core commercial purpose and how do we strengthen it?

  2. Who are our most valuable customers and what do they really need from us?

  3. What unique commercial value do we deliver?

  4. Which products or services generate the most commercial value, cash and profits?

  5. How do we make money and where are the opportunities to improve profitability?

  6. What critical resources and capabilities drive our commercial success?

  7. What key activities must we excel at commercially?

  8. Who are our essential commercial partners and suppliers, and how do we ensure they support our business goals?

  9. What are the biggest commercial risks we face and how do we manage them?

  10. How do we measure success and track the metrics that matter for long-term value creation?

Recent Outcomes

  • £900k margin improvement for a content marketing business.

  • Digital transformation for a pandemic hit publishing, content & events business.

  • 34% growth through audience segmentation for a content company.

  • Doubled revenue for a media & marketing business to £24m.

  • Strategic business transformation including Net Zero pathway for a £12m learning & training business.

  • Commercial strategy and ESG integration for £60m field sales & marketing agency.

  • Business resilience planning including carbon footprint assessments and regulatory compliance (CDP, EcoVadis, TCFD, SECR, ESOS, Planet Mark).

  • Strategic planning workshops for multiple companies.

Building Commercial Strength for B2B Media, Marketing and their Supply Chains

PHASE 1

COMMERCIAL STRATEGY FOUNDATIONS

  • Business model assessment (content, events, digital, publishing)

  • Revenue stream analysis and diversification opportunities

  • Market position review and competitive landscape

  • Value proposition evaluation across content and service offerings

  • Growth opportunity mapping (digital transformation, new formats)

  • Cash-flow and margin improvement planning

  • Customer or client portfolio analysis and segmentation

  • Content monetisation & audience development

  • Commercial risk evaluation

PHASE 2

BUSINESS RESILIENCE & FUTURE-PROOFING

  • Strategic planning for media & marketing businesses

  • Digital transformation and platform optimisation

  • Audience data and business intelligence strategy

  • Event portfolio optimisation (live, digital, hybrid)

  • Publishing and content distribution planning

  • Supply chain optimisation (production, technology, talent)

  • Client relationship and retention strategies

  • Performance measurement across content and commercial KPIs

  • Market positioning in evolving media landscape

Start small, see value, then decide. No long-term commitments.

Strategic Reviews

Quick assessments of content, publishing, marketing services, events or digital strategies to identify growth opportunities

Strategy Workshops

Detailed planning for content monetisation, audience development, and business model evolution

Executive Training

Practical training for media and marketing leadership teams on strategic planning and business optimisation

About Me

From Commercial Director at BBC Worldwide to Marketing Director at Universal Pictures, and leading several SME media and marketing businesses, I bring over 25 years of experience helping companies create better business models that deliver measurable commercial value and embed sustainability as a core driver of growth.

I specialise in simplifying complex commercial strategies into clear, actionable business models that boost revenue, improve margins, and enhance market position in rapidly evolving media and marketing markets My approach focuses on practical change and transition, ensuring businesses not only adapt but thrive in a rapidly evolving market.

Whether you need quick strategic input, targeted project support, or ongoing advisory roles, I deliver value-driven solutions at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire, helping media, marketing companies and their supply chains, unlock new growth opportunities while meeting growing ESG expectations.

Commercial Strategy

• Led £400k margin improvement through pandemic at Ultima Media, launching digital events, webinars, business intelligence, paid content (Ultima Media)

• Transformed content agency: £4.6m to £6m revenue, £900K margin improvement (Archant Dialogue)

• Delivered £12m+ cost savings across multiple businesses

• Achieved 18% cost reduction through supply chain optimisation

• Reduced operational costs by 50% through strategic negotiation

Market Strategy

• Delivered £500K+ growth via strategic brand licensing extensions (BBC Worldwide)

• Achieved 34% revenue growth through customer segmentation (Universal Pictures)

• Turned cash crisis to profit in 12 months (Edinburgh Film Festival)

• Doubled media revenue from £12m to £24m through strategic change (BAA Media)

Sustainability & Responsible Business Practices

• Developed ESG strategy for international field sales & marketing agency

• Created Net Zero pathway for £12m learning provider (200+ employees)

• Led sustainability integration across 5 pillars for global experiential agency

• Delivered sustainability training for major institutions including CIM

Experience

  • Commercial Director, BBC Worldwide

  • Marketing Director, Universal Pictures

  • MD roles in content, marketing, publishing and conferences

  • B2B media and marketing leadership

  • Course Director for sustainability at The Chartered Institute of Marketing

Professional Background

  • MBA, Durham University Business School

  • Fellow, The Chartered Institute of Marketing

  • Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

  • Corporate Governance Institute

Current Board Roles

  • Board Trustee, Berkshire Vision

  • Climate Partnership Steering Group, RBWM

Testimonials

  • "What really sets Gavin apart is how well he gets both the sustainability world and the commercial one. That mix meant we ended up with a strategy that wasn’t just ‘nice to have’ but something people could get behind and deliver. He brought our teams along for the ride and helped us talk to clients about it in a way that felt honest, inspiring, and practical. He made a big difference to our journey. I’m really glad we had him on board and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking to do sustainability properly."

    Group Managing Director, Field Sales and Marketing Agency

  • “We had a brilliant workshop with Gavin – lots of fantastic insights and a whole new perspective on sustainability and marketing in a sustainable world. The course sparked a lot of conversations within the team and will definitely shape our approach to sustainability in our future campaigns.”

    The German National Tourist Board

  • “Gavin is consistently helpful, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. He’s helped us to get started with clarity about sustainability and what this means in practice, well beyond carbon footprints. Thought-partnership in these early stages has been invaluable. Gavin wears his expertise lightly and a very engaging introductory workshop has helped the team to start making meaningful changes.”

    Saskie Dorman NHS Palliative Care Consultant

  • “I wish I’d known then, whilst running SME businesses, what I know now. How the principles of ESG, Sustainability and Responsible Practices really can improve a business, its marketing, operations and enhance its reputation. It has made a world of difference.”

    MD Retail Business