International Speaker,

In 2012 it became apparent that the business model had changed. Previously successful large companies could not adapt to the new, post-recession landscape. With clients’ budgets tumbling, big corporate overheads could no longer be supported, so Derek teamed up with three former colleagues to launch a new brand of visual effects studio called Coffee & TV (after the Blur song that some of the team worked on), focussed entirely on the talent. Soon after, they opened their second site in Bristol, which was responsible for many prestigious visuals, including the title sequence to the BBC’s Planet Earth II. This studio was later sold to the management team and rebranded Moonraker VFX

Derek’s life now is a fascinating mixture of creativity and business. Happily married with a teenage son, he keeps fit by cycling crazy distances and still pursues creative passions including playing drums in live bands.

His thirst for learning has not dwindled though. He recently completed the Business Growth Programme at Cranfield University, is an alumnus of the Business of Brand (BoB) school run by Linzi Boyd and Darren Shirlaw and is part of the membership committee of the exclusive entrepreneurs’ network called The Supper Club. In addition to all this Derek acts as an advisor to a number of diverse and exciting companies, including an advertising production company, an online skate retailer and a corporate caterer!

Now an international speaker, with talks given in Europe and the USA, Derek has shared the stage with the Visual Effects Supervisor of Star Wars and has much more lined up this year.