Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group Appoints Louise Hughes as Chief Operating Officer

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group has announced the appointment of Louise Hughes as its new chief operating officer. Hughes’ appointment to the leadership team follows the arrival of James McKnight, as chief executive officer, Lawrence Chapman, as group chief financial officer and Libby Grant, as chief operating officer.

In her new role, Hughes will lead legal, operational and business affairs globally, working in close partnership with the company’s licensing teams across theatrical, live, immersive and themed entertainment, as well as music, consumer products and merchandise.

Hughes joins from J.K. Rowling’s entertainment agency, The Blair Partnership, where she has held the position of group general counsel since 2017. Prior to that she worked in a series of senior legal roles with The Blair Partnership, Penguin Random House and The Financial Times, having started her career with international law firm Wragge & Co (now known as Gowling WLG). Hughes will bring extensive experience in managing commercial deal strategy and complex intellectual property portfolios across multimedia formats, having worked with global entertainment franchises like Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts, Peter Rabbit, and other children’s literary properties.

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“I’ve spent my whole career specializing in deal negotiation to support the ambitions of world-class teams managing generation-defining intellectual property,” says Hughes. “It’s an honor to be able to continue this journey with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group. The business is setting out on an ambitious and exciting new path, building on all the incredible work that has gone before. I’m hugely excited to be a part of it all and to join the outstanding team already in place.”

“I’m thrilled to be reunited with Louise. This is another exceptional appointment for the business as we continue on our mission to extend our reputation as a global innovator in musical theatre and re-focus as a collaborative, experience-led entertainment company,” says McKnight. “Louise has unparalleled talents for breaking new ground and extensive experience in strategic global rights development with the ability to find creative and unique solutions to complex issues, which will be powerful in delivering on our ambitious, long term plans for the Really Useful Group. We’re incredibly excited to welcome her to the team.”

The company is also announcing a host of new and recent hires across theatrical productions, brand and franchise development, music strategy and finance.

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Serin Kasif returns from maternity leave with a new, expanded brief as business development director (Theatrical and Live), Isobel Richardson joins as brand and franchise development director, Ken Marchesi joins as finance director, Aaron Buckingham joins as head, music strategy and Jordana Leighton joins as senior brand manager.

Really Useful Group also announced the departure of Martin Lowes as director and head of legal.

The business will continue to announce more projects in the coming months.