Strategic advisors

Rob was previously Managing Director of Apollo Cinemas, overseeing an estate of 14 cinemas and 83 screens until its sale in 2012. In mid-2013, he was appointed as the Interim Director of Operations at Curzon Cinemas, London’s leading independent and arthouse cinema group and led a project in early 2014 to upgrade their projection, sound and satellite network.

Rob has worked in the UK and International Cinema sector for the past 24 years with companies such as Vue Entertainment, SBC International Cinemas,

as Director of Special Projects and Vice President Operations; Warner Village, Warner Bros and UCI where he held senior executive and operational management positions.

Rob has extensive cinema opening and operating experience in Taiwan, Portugal, Romania, United Kingdom and Ireland and he has worked on many cinema and leisure development projects.

Mike Thomson’s background is both operational and commercial. His expertise is in developing commercial strategies for cinema and leisure owners, operators or developers. As a Director at Virgin, UGC Cinemas, and Cineworld Mike headed up the combined marketing, film programming and retail functions, developing fully integrated commercial strategies, including the development and launch of the ‘Unlimited’ card – the UK’s first, and largest, cinema subscription scheme. Mike recently created a new cinema concept and brand position for The Light Cinema’s, the UK’s fastest growing cinema chain, including its subscription card, Infinity.

Prior to the cinema industry Mike held senior executive positions at BHS and Virgin Megastores. This background in retail and cinema uniquely positions Mike to help local authorities, developers, shopping centre managers and investors on delivering integrated entertainment offers within malls or town centres.

Over the last 10 years Mike has gained extensive knowledge of International markets working across Europe, with particular focus on the emerging Eastern European market, The Nordics, Middle East and India.

John is a long term property professional and has acted in a senior development and agency capacity on numerous retail, leisure and residential schemes throughout Australia, Asia, Europe and the UK.

From 1996 John has been based in London, UK, acting initially for Warner Village (UK) Ltd as property director and in development roles for Village (Greece), Warner Lusomundo (Spain, Portugal), CGV (South Korea), Warner Village (Taiwan), Village (Germany/ France), Warner Village (Italy), Vue (UK), The Eye (Eire), Village (South Africa).

In 2002, John set up his leisure consultancy group which evolved into CinemaNext Consulting, advising property groups with a long term development strategy (Westfield, Henderson, Land Securities, Hammerson, Multiplex, Centros Miller, ING, St Modwen etc) in addition to advising international clients (CGV, Warners, Village etc), on cinema development and strategy through markets in Europe, Russia, Asia and Australasia.

With a BA in Communications, Judith has held several roles as a Communications Consultant for various companies including ING Real Estate in the Netherlands.

Judith's main focus has been on delivering comprehensive reports for Local Authorities on cinema provisions, particularly in the North West of England. In addition Judith provides wide-ranging support on all consulting projects and manages all financial aspects of the business.

Kath is an experienced administrator who has spent the last 15 years working in the cinema sector. At UK Film Council, Kath coordinated the assessment process for all Distribution & Exhibition funding applications and was involved in the roll-out of digital screens across the UK, both at UK Film Council and subsequently at the Digital Funding Partnership.

More recently, Kath has been working in the cinema equipment services sector, providing administrative and finance support at Cinema Next UK.