
Thrive is a strategic talent consultancy dedicated to finding and developing exceptional talent to help your media and entertainment business flourish.
WHAT WE DO
We specialise in search for the convergent media market, where entertainment, platforms and technology are colliding at speed. In these new environments, placing leaders is not just about identifying candidates; it’s about securing individuals who can navigate complexity, inspire creativity, and deliver lasting impact.
That’s why we approach search differently. Every placement is backed by integration coaching to embed leaders from day one. And through partnerships in organisational design, business growth, and performance psychology, we help create the conditions for those leaders, and the organisations they serve, to allow them to thrive long term.
A FRESH, INVESTED APPROACH TO SEARCH
Traditional search stops at the shortlist. We believe that’s not enough. In convergent, fast-changing markets, placing the right leader isn’t just about filling a role, it’s about setting the stage for transformation.
That’s why we’re ripping up the rule book on the traditional search process. We don’t just identify and introduce candidates; we embed them. Every placement is backed by executive coaching to ensure they land well, align fast, and deliver impact. And because leadership doesn’t happen in isolation, we partner with specialists in business growth, organisational design, and leadership development to strengthen the ecosystem around them.
For us, investment means skin in the game: committing to the long-term success of the people we place and the organisations they transform.
OUR CONVERGENT NETWORK
The boundaries between formerly siloed TV, advertising, digital, branded content, and creator economies are dissolving. Global streamers dominate spend, YouTube captures mass attention, AI is reshaping workflows, and new financial models are evolving. To meet the challenges of these markets, Thrive connects media businesses with the future-ready leaders who can navigate this convergence, helping companies adapt their structures, cultures, and strategies to succeed in a market defined by disruption and imagination.
WORKPLACE STRUCTURE AND CULTURE TRANSFORMERS
Thrive is dedicated to helping founders and leaders achieve sustainable success. Together, we support clients in realigning their mission, vision, and purpose by revitalising workflows, processes, team structures, and culture to ensure teams flourish. Our clients range from start-ups aiming to raise capital to SMEs looking to scale or pivot and corporations seeking cultural transformation.
SUSTAINABILITY EXPERTISE
The rapid evolution of the media demands that leaders embrace new and adaptive strategies. Sustainable leadership involves co-creating a future for nature and humanity, with business leaders instrumental in driving transformation. Thrive partners with leaders to shift perceptions, thinking, listening, connecting, cooperating, and taking action.
LATEST FEATURES AND INSIGHTS
Dive into our blog pages to stay informed and connected with the latest talent advice, insights, and industry happenings.
MEET THE TEAM
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Sarah Shields
FOUNDER AND CEO
Sarah has over 20 years’ experience as a leading talent expert for the creative industries. A former producer of hit TV formats and documentaries, she led in-house talent management divisions within broadcast television companies. She set up We Are PiP in 2012, the UK’s first specialist TV production search company, where clients benefited from Sarah’s cross-sector knowledge and deep industry relationships. Thrive was born out of Sarah’s vision for cultural transformation in the creative industries.
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Alice Friel
DIRECTOR
Alice leads the Thrive team and manages executive search for all sectors, specialising in leadership and C level roles, across EMEA and US markets. Previously she worked as a Producer on shows including The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, and Big Brother.
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Georgia Hunt
TALENT CONSULTANT
Georgia leads executive search for development, distribution, and acquisitions, broadcast TV production (scripted & unscripted) digital and social, and freelance roles. Before joining Thrive, she spent a decade as a Producer in unscripted television production and post-production. Her TV credits include The Voice, Dancing on Ice, and The Royal Variety Performance.
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Beda Craw
TALENT CONSULTANT
With over 13 years of experience in unscripted television, Beda joins our team to support the delivery of Thrive’s search. Her impressive credits span popular series such as Big Brother, Celebs Go Dating, Geordie Shore, and The Ranganation. Beda’s extensive production expertise and dynamic approach make her an invaluable addition to the team. -
Ian Prophet
FINANCE DIRECTOR
Ian has a wealth of experience mentoring SMEs and business start-ups. He currently holds multiple directorships in the recruitment sector, allowing him to bring knowledge and deep insight into a variety of sectors to Thrive.
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Fiona Chambers
LEGAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS
Fiona is a qualified lawyer, specialising in media and entertainment business affairs. Previously she was Senior Solicitor at RDF (Banijay) and more recently she set up her own consultancy, with clients including indies, distributors, Television channels as well as Thrive.