About us

The people, principles and experience behind Showrunners

Showrunners was built by two people who have spent their careers where TV, digital media and brand-funded storytelling collide. We’ve run studios, led creative teams, developed new formats, delivered award-winning branded entertainment and built partnerships across the UK media landscape.

We created Showrunners to solve a problem we kept seeing everywhere: great ideas getting stuck in development because the worlds of TV, creators and brands weren’t talking to each other.

We're here to fix that.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We believe in three things:

1. Format-first thinking

Great entertainment is built on repeatable ideas. Not one-offs. Not branded stunts. Not vague concepts. Formats are engines. We help build and refine them.

2. Collaboration, not competition

We’re not a production company.

We’re not an agency.

We don’t take IP.

We don’t replace TV production company development teams.

We’re the connective tissue that helps ideas get made.

3. Brand involvement should improve the story

When brands fund entertainment, the result should feel elevated - not compromised. We’ve done this long enough to know how to get that balance right.

MEET THE FOUNDERS

Graham Hayday

Co-founder and CEO

Graham is a creative and commercial leader with over 20 years’ experience in branded content, editorial strategy and multi-platform storytelling. A former Head of Studio at Guardian Labs, he led one of the UK’s most awarded branded content teams, developing cross-platform campaigns that generated more than £10m a year and winning multiple D&AD, Webby and industry awards.

He has held senior creative and operational roles at Condé Nast, Cedar (Tesco), Nemorin Film & Video and ROXi, working with global brands including Unilever, Tesco, Red Bull, Visit England, National Geographic and NBCUniversal. His experience spans digital, social, video and TV, from ideation and scripting through to production, delivery and measurement.

At ROXi he helped grow the user base from almost zero to one million UK households, launched 10 FAST TV channels on LG’s platform and managed partnerships with Sky, Samsung and LG, driving more than half of all new user sign-ups at minimal cost. He has a long-track record of unifying creative and commercial teams, scaling operations and helping organisations adopt new approaches that elevate both storytelling and performance.

At Showrunners, Graham leads creative strategy, format development and partnerships - helping production companies turn smart ideas into fundable, watchable shows.

Elizabeth Webber

Co-founder and director of branded entertainment

Liz is a multi-award-winning brand partnerships and entertainment specialist with over 15 years’ experience connecting talent, production companies and global brands. She has held senior commercial and branded entertainment roles across major media organisations including Vox Media, Jamie Oliver Group, Microsoft and Nemorin Film & Video, delivering multi-million-pound partnerships and Cannes Lions-winning campaigns.

Her career spans IP monetisation, creator collaborations and multi-platform storytelling, with a track record of building high-performing teams and scaling partnerships across the UK, EMEA and US. She has led branded entertainment initiatives with world-class creators and talent - including work with Sharon Horgan’s team - and has deep experience crafting content that balances editorial integrity with brand purpose.

Liz has developed and executed partnerships for clients across entertainment, FMCG, fashion, tech and sport, working with blue-chip advertisers, global studios and major entertainment brands. She is also the founder of Perfect Pair, her consultancy specialising in talent-led branded entertainment collaborations.

At Showrunners, Liz leads branded entertainment strategy - shaping format thinking, unlocking brand funding, and ensuring every partnership enhances the story rather than interrupts it.

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