Nationality British | Spouse Ellen Miller | |
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Known for Management of creative companies; arts production Children Isabella Gavin, Alexandra Gavin Nominations Tony Award for Best Play Similar Stephanie P McClelland, Roger Berlind, Jon B Platt, Jane Bergère, William Shakespeare | ||
Rupert Gavin is a British business executive and theatre impresario. He is currently Chairman of Historic Royal Palaces and is a former CEO of BBC Worldwide and Odeon Cinemas. As a producer/financier he is notable for a series of successful plays and musicals through his company Incidental Colman. He chairs the Honours Committee for Arts and Media.
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Current roles
In 2015 Gavin was appointed Chairman of Historic Royal Palaces, the charity responsible for the management and conservation of the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle.
He is executive Chairman of the theatre production company Incidental Colman, which has produced/co-produced in the West End and on Broadway and is a winner of several Olivier awards.
Gavin is a non-executive director of Wyevale Garden Centres and Countrywide plc. He is also a co-owner of L’Escargot restaurant and an advisory board member of the Founders Forum, a community for global entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors. He is also Chairman of the Honours Committee for Media and the Arts, as well as a Warden of the Worshipful Company of Grocers.
Early career
Gavin read economics at Magdalene College, Cambridge University. After graduation he took a copywriting role at Sharps advertising agency; he would eventually become an equity partner at the firm before it was sold to Saatchi & Saatchi. While working at Sharps he established close links with Dixons Stores Group, and would eventually go on to become deputy managing director of the electronics retailer. In 1994, he joined British Telecom to work on its internet and multimedia strategy; he went on to become Managing Director of the firm's consumer division. In 1998 he became chief executive of BBC Worldwide. He was CEO of Odeon Cinemas and UCI Cinemas Group from 2006 to 2014
Gavin has also served as Board member and shareholder of Ambassador Theatre Group, Chairman of Contender Entertainment Group, Chairman of Screenstage, Governor of the National Film and Television School and Treasurer of the Contemporary Art Society.
Theatre productions, co-productions and financings
In 2012 the Evening Standard newspaper dubbed Gavin "Mr West End", in reference to London's Theatreland. Productions/coproductions by Incidental Colman have won nine Olivier awards
Personal life
He is married to Ellen Miller; the couple have two daughters, Alexandra and Isabella, and live in London and Dorset. Debrett's lists his leisure activities as "...theatre producer, lyricist and gardener". He is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society.
His principle charitable activities include being Chairman of Historic Royal Palaces as well as various roles for the Grocers’ Company, including being a Governor of Oundle School.
Family descent
He is of direct descent from James Gavin (b 1658) the Kirk Beadle of Lunan, Angus. His family motto is 'By Industry We Prosper'.