MODERATOR: Charlie Read

Read is founder of Upstream, a consultancy working with founder-led production companies to help them navigate structural change and unlock sustainable growth through brand partnerships and brand-funded content. Read began his career as a producer, working inside commercial production companies before moving into senior leadership roles across advertising, content and entertainment. This grounding in production remains central to his work today, giving him a practical understanding of how strategic decisions affect teams, talent and delivery on the ground. He was part of the founding leadership team at Channel 4’s multi-award-winning in-house agency 4Creative, where he helped design operating models that reduced marketing costs, increased effectiveness and quality and opened up new commercial opportunities with brands. Read later co-founded The Outfit, a branded entertainment studio that worked with global brands including Honda, Suzuki, Diageo and McDonald’s. It was acquired in 2024.