Simon Cole

Simon is an experienced media and technology executive. He currently serves as the Chair at virtual reality company Melody VR, having worked in the last 20 years in both radio programme production and streaming music.

After studying Drama at Manchester University, Simon joined the BBC for his initial training in the radio medium, moving rapidly into commercial radio and 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 and drove the Company’s move into new online platforms. In 2001 Simon was made Fellow of the Radio Academy. In 2104, UBC merged with 7digital to create a global leading company in end-to-end digital music solutions with Simon as Chief Executive. Simon left his position at 7digital in 2019 to concentrate on a number of non-executive and advisory roles.

Simon has supported Central School of Ballet for a number of years and subsequently joined the Board of Governors and the Campaign Council (Chairman) in September 2009.