Advisory Board

Joined Cameron Mackintosh in 1981 as executive producer for Cats and subsequently Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, Oliver! and My Fair Lady. Executive producer of the film of Les Misérables and both the bestselling  Concert DVDs from the O2 and Royal Albert Hall. Since 2000, Managing Director of Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, a worldwide production company which also owns Music Theatre International in New York and seven (soon to be nine) West End theatres.

For ten years he has been Chairman of the Soho Theatre & Writers Centre, London and also a trustee of the iconic Roundhouse. He was a board member of the London 2012 Olympic Festival and was one of the panel to select the UK City of Culture 2017. A member of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Strategy Group and a UK Business Ambassador, he was awarded an OBE for services to theatre and charity by the Queen in the 2014 New Years Honours.

Nick Blackburn has had a diverse career; from Manager of pop group Procol Harum to the ticket agency See Tickets. He set up See Tickets in 2002 after spending 12 years at rival group, Ticketmaster. His company employs 400 people and sells tickets to all the major events and shows in the UK.

Andy Coulson is the Founder of Coulson Partners, providing high-impact advice on corporate strategy, reputation and communications to CEOs, leaders and entrepreneurs. He is the former Downing Street Director of Communications and was Editor of the News of the World from 2003 until 2007. Andy continues to serve on the advisory board of Tickets For Troops, a charity he helped establish in 2009.

Alex Hill is President of AEG Europe. In this role, Alex is responsible for overseeing all activity and business units of AEG throughout Europe, which is split into the following divisions; AEG Presents, AEG Global Partnerships, AEG Real Estate, AEG Facilities and AEG Sport. This activity includes 20 music, sport and entertainment venues; a number of festivals including the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park concert series; sports franchises such as German ice hockey club Eisbären Berlin and Stockholm’s Hammarby Sports Association; entertainment districts The O2 in London and Mercedes Platz in Berlin and more diverse businesses such as MBNA Thames Clippers, the London river boat service.

Gary Lydiate is CEO of Kilfrost Group. Prior to that he served 20 years in the Royal Navy and held a senior appointment at BAE Systems.