CTAME Co-Chair. SVP Affiliate Partnerships, AMC Networks International – UK
Louise joined AMC Networks International UK’s (formerly Chello Zone) affiliate sales department in 2003 and is currently responsible for overseeing and managing channel sales and channel development for a large portfolio of AMCNI channel brands across Middle East, Africa, Poland, Israel and Turkey.
Prior to AMCNI, Louise spent seven years at Travel Channel as Head of Affiliate Sales and Marketing, joining the company at its launch in 1994. She also enjoyed a marketing career within The Economist’s Intelligence Unit.

Louise graduated from the University of London with a degree in Economics and Politics, and also achieved a CIM diploma in Marketing

CTAM Europe Co-Chair

Lukas Kernell has been working with Liberty Global since 2003. As Vice President of Content, Lukas is responsible for maintaining LG’s relationships with its content partners. During his tenure with LG, Lukas has also fulfilled various roles at Chello Media, LG’s former content and broadcast services division.
Prior to joining LG he has been employed by Stokvis-Niehe Producties, a subsidiary of Endemol, overseeing its initiatives in the new media space. At RTL, the largest commercial broadcaster in The Netherlands, Lukas was responsible for Business Development at iMedia, the “new media” unit of RTL. As General Counsel and VP Business Development at @Home Benelux, Lukas was instrumental in establishing and operating the joint venture between several Dutch cable operators, Intel and At Home Network.

With over 20 years’ experience in the television, internet and cable industry in various roles, Lukas continues to be fascinated by the ever developing worlds of media and technology. Lukas holds a law degree from the University of Maastricht and lives in Amsterdam with his wife Lynda and their son, Olivier.

Ben is an independent analyst and board-level advisor in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) space. He has over 35 years of experience helping companies and investors make better-informed decisions based on data-driven understanding of the future.

Until 2017, Ben was Chief Analyst & Vice President for TMT at IHS Markit, leading a team of 100 expert analysts around the world and advising leaders at most of the world’s largest TMT groups. Prior to IHS, Ben was instrumental in building Screen Digest into a premiere research firm, pioneering empirical analysis and robust forecasting of global media and technology markets. In late 2010, Screen Digest was acquired by IHS. Ben subsequently helped IHS acquire and integrate another six research and analysis firms.

His current interests include serving as Senior Advisor to the British Screen Forum, Board Advisor to content lifecycle analytics leader Looper Insights, Non-Executive Director of The Audience Agency, Advisory Board member at movie streamer CultPix, AI-powered video enabler EDGE, and animation production company Blanca Pictures, and Industry Advisor to investment bank Silverwood Partners. Other recent roles include Board Advisor to streaming audience research firm Digital-I, Chair of TV drama consultancy MediaXchange, and advisor to immersive entertainment research pioneer Greenlight Insights.

Ben recently authored the British Screen Forum report Show Me The Money! An Investigation in the Dynamics and Future of UK Film Financing.

Maria Rua Aguete leads the strategic development of the media team and manages its day-to-day operations, tracking the continuing evolution of global service providers and operators. Maria first created the team while at Screen Digest, which became part of IHS Markit.

The team’s research on service providers is deep and extensive, leveraging long-standing relationships with operators in all of the 70+ markets covered by the group, resulting in the most comprehensive source of television and operator market intelligence in the world.

Maria is also a regular contributor to various reports, including the European Cable Yearbook, and she has led or has been a significant contributor to many consulting projects for high-profile media and technology companies, including the market-launch and purchase plans of an emerging television group, a Latin America DTT platform for a major channel group, and a satellite pay-TV provider for a private equity group.

She has also performed commercial due diligence on a cable TV components business for a major international bank; a competitive review and strategic analysis for a major international channel operator; a comprehensive review of investment opportunities in the European cable market for a venture capital group; and a market report and due diligence on a localization services (dubbing/subtitling) company for an investment bank.

Maria has collected many accolades throughout a storied career, and she is one of only 11 Technology Fellows named by IHS Markit during her time at the company, an honor that recognizes her deep expertise and exceptional standing within the analyst community.

Maria holds a first class degree in economics and business studies from Vigo University in Spain, and an MBA from Cardiff Business School in Wales. She is a regular speaker at events like IBC and Mobile World Congress.

Henry has two decades of media experience, and has seen it all. Four years ago Henry co-founded the independent media agency Bicycle London, named as 'One to Watch in 2025' by Campaign. Henry believes in making a difference to the industry and has created an open and supportive agency culture at Bicycle.

Chris has over 25 years of experience working across the advertising industry and is now Senior Director of Media where he leads the UK commercial team specialising in Connected TV (CTV) programmatic & digital media sales across Rakuten TV. Prior to Rakuten TV he worked for leading media houses including AOL, Hearst & Glam Media.