From 0 to 27 AI Agents: How The Channel Company Is Becoming AI-Native | Matt Yorke

Heather Holst-Knudsen is a distinguished figure and expert in the events, media, marketing and technology sectors. Using her extensive experience, she guides clients in adapting to structural economic and market changes, seizing the chance to innovate and evolve. She specializes in digital and data disruption and opportunity, exploring how these overarching factors can impact revenue growth,customer-centricity, operational efficiency, profit margins, and the overall valuation of companies in both public and private markets. Her journey began at her family business, Thomas Publishing Company, where she honed her skills. She further expanded her expertise by holding positions at early industry giants Miller Freeman, Reed Elsevier, and IDG. Returning to Thomas Publishing, Heather founded and spearheaded Manufacturing Enterprise Communications, an integrated media portfolio connecting buyers and sellers in the manufacturing and technology sectors. Starting in 2015 and spanning the next seven years, she leveraged her expertise as a revenue and business leader in various SaaS businesses, including Feathr, Gleanin, Brella and Edflex. Heather is deeply passionate about digital innovation, data monetization, and AI and how these strategies fuel revenue growth, profitability, and company valuation. To serve and create value for clients in these areas, she launched H2K Labs, dedicated to generating and leveraging value through data for media, business information, events, and adjacent technology and service markets.

Matt Yorke is the Chief Executive Officer of The Channel Company, a global leader in delivering news, insights, strategy, events, and marketing services for the IT industry. With decades of experience at the intersection of media, marketing, and technology, Matt is a recognized industry leader known for driving transformation and innovation.

Before joining The Channel Company, Matt served as Global Chief Revenue Officer at Foundry (an IDG Inc. company), where he oversaw all revenue streams and spearheaded significant growth through four acquisitions, transforming the company into an integrated marketing technology and data provider. Prior to that, he led digital transformation and M&A initiatives as Chief Digital Officer at Northstar Travel Group and held senior leadership roles at Arizent, OMD, and IDG.

Matt's contributions to the industry have earned him numerous accolades, including Foundry's Outstanding Business Performance Award (2021), Folio Industry Pioneer (2017), and BtoB's Media Business Executive Innovator (2010). Known for his visionary leadership, Matt continues to shape the future of media and marketing technology with a strong focus on growth and innovation.