About Us

G8consultancy is a niche management advice bureau formed to target small to medium enterprises (SME’s) who may be in need of commercial direction but lack the infrastructure, turnover or budgets to warrant a full blown suite of executives and their collective overhead.

As well as offering practical advice to businesses we also coach individuals who are contemplating ‘change’ in their lives and are looking for ‘next step’ direction to realise their full potential. This is particularly pertinent for young people who may be leaving school or tertiary education and may need an independent mentoring partner to facilitate guidance on life/career choices and goal achieving.

G8consultancy principal Mike Preece has over 25 years experience working within International businesses. He has held senior management positions in highly visible International companies like Universal Studios, Twentieth Century Fox and PolyGram. He is also a trained mentor and noted speaker on ‘corporate social responsibility’ and ‘change management’.

Mike Preece Biography

Mike Preece has been employed in the filmed entertainment business since 1979.

From a focused background in sales and classically trained by 3M as a Key Account Manager; Mike was seconded to head up a new division based on BBC pre-recorded video under license to 3M.
Mike successfully launched BBC Video to the UK market in 1980.

In 1982 20th Century Fox utilised Mike’s early industry experience by recruiting him to develop and sustain key distribution for their newly formed UK Video Operation.

By 1989 Mike was Sales Director of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, responsible for the UK market in terms of Revenue generation, Manufacturing and Operations.

In 1990 Mike moved to independent Distributor Island Pictures as Sales and Marketing Director.

By 1994 and promoted to Managing Director, Mike’s position covered responsibility for a publishing arm, theatrical exhibition, programme acquisition, TV sales and home video for the European market.

In 1997 (and due to Mike’s expanding International experience) PolyGram recruited him as Vice President Marketing, International Video and Television with a remit to advance and sustain home grown programming across Europe, Japan, Canada and Australasia.

In 1999 PolyGram was purchased by Seagram who were the owners of Universal Studios. Universal had (to this point) used third parties for Global distribution of their Home Entertainment products. PolyGram’s acquired business platform was used to create Universal’s International video label, on a stand alone basis. A $25m budget was allocated to amalgamate the businesses and Mike’s role was critical in the successful transition of the operation.

In 2000 Mike was promoted to Senior Vice President, Licensed Distribution Universal Pictures International.
In that role his extensive International experience and cultural empathy proved successful in the management of third party distribution companies covering 52 Global Territories.

Mike entered and developed markets such as Russia, Indonesia, Croatia, China, India and Central America, as well as maintaining Company revenues from mature markets like Greece, South Africa, Argentina and Taiwan.

By 2003, following Vivendi’s controversial purchase of Universal, the Company sold off title assets to boost an ailing balance sheet.

The development of Licensed Territories were stalled while the Company actively pursued new investment opportunities.

Universal Pictures were sold to NBC TV and Mike left the Company.

He now resides in New Zealand where he continues to work as an independent consultant focused on expanding International markets within the Pacific Rim.

mike.preece@g8consultancy.com

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Mike Preece Biography

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