Rupert Gavin


Rupert Gavin is a British entrepreneur, businessman and theatre impresario. He is currently Chairman of Historic Royal Palaces and is a former CEO of BBC Worldwide and of 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.

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. His tenure was extended for a second term in May 2018.
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 fourteen Olivier Awards.
He is non-executive Chairman of DNEG plc, the leading movie and TV VFX business.
Gavin is a non-executive director of Wyevale Garden Centres and Countrywide plc. He is also Chairman of the Honours Committee for Media and the Arts and commences his second term as of January 2019. He is a member of The Court of the Worshipful Company of Grocers, having been Master in 2017/18.

Early career

Gavin was educated at Eton College, an independent boys' school in Berkshire, England, followed by Magdalene College at the Cambridge University, where he read Economics. 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.

Recent theatre productions, co-productions and financings

In 2012 the Evening Standard newspaper dubbed Gavin "Mr West End", in reference to London's Theatreland. Productions/co-productions by Incidental Colman have won fourteen Olivier awards, for either Best New Play, Best Play Revival, Best New Musical, Best Musical Revival or Best Entertainment.

Personal life

He is married to Ellen Miller; the couple have two daughters, Alexandra and Isabella, and live in London. Debrett's lists his leisure activities as "...theatre producer, lyricist and gardener". He is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society.

Charitable activities

He is Chairman of the charity Historic Royal Palaces.
He has been a lifelong contributor to the Grocers' Charity, which supports a range of small charities. He currently sits on the Education and Charities Committee of the Grocers' Company. He is a patron of the Hay Literary Festival, the London Library and the Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival. He sits on the Development Council of the Almeida Theatre.

Family descent

He is of direct descent from James Gavin the Kirk Beadle of Lunan, Angus. His family motto is 'By industry we prosper'.