Chris Fossey, senior business development manager at Iron Mountain Entertainment Services
Talk us through an average day in your role
As a senior business development manager at Iron Mountain Entertainment Services (IMES) my days are always different. My day to day can involve different phone calls, Zoom calls or face to face meetings to discuss current and new contracts and build bespoke proposals that cater to each company’s media archiving or restoration needs. So basically my role goes from selling our services to media owners to taking their feedback and pain points to our team in order to enhance our existing business and create new services. With the world opening up again I have also started to attend more events around the UK and Europe like MPTS, IBC, and MIPCOM to network with other people in the industry and meet new potential customers.
How did you get started in the media industry?
I started out working in a VHS duplication warehouse when I was 16 and then I had a short stint at university before deciding to move straight into the industry full time. My first full time role was working in a company’s media asset library and I moved from there to working at the BBC for 13 years on loads of different projects involving both live and pre-recorded broadcasts. While at the BBC, I worked for a while in post production and bookings but I always ended up gravitating back towards archiving. After this, I worked in a number of post production facilities and different servicing companies throughout the years. Until it all came full circle when I joined IMES in 2020, because now I’m working with legacy formats like VHS tapes again, helping companies archive and restore their media.
What training did you have before entering the industry?
After a short stint at University, I decided it wasn’t for me but luckily it was a lot easier then to get a start in the industry than it is now. I basically worked my way up through different roles learning from everyone I worked with, from starting in a video duplication warehouse and moving to the BBC to work in archiving to the position that I now hold at IMES in sales.
Why do you enjoy working in the industry?
I’ve got a real interest in what we do at IMES. There’s something very important about asset preservation because ultimately it isn’t just about preserving files, it’s really about preserving culture and history. The knowledge that we are preserving pieces of film, broadcast and music that are a reflection of our history makes the role even more rewarding. At the end of the day, though, it’s the people that make the job special and I’m a firm believer in being around good people. That’s why I enjoy it.
What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a role similar to yours?
The best pieces of advice that I can give to someone looking to join the industry are don’t be afraid to ask questions, be yourself and listen. You shouldn’t underestimate the value in listening to those around you and learning from their experiences.
