Commercial Experts Take To University Stage
1 October 2009
Gary Johnson has taken on the role of Theatre Manager at the Derby Theatre.
Peter Rayner - Commercial Manager, University of Derby Buxton.
The University of Derby continues to strengthen its commercial expertise this autumn with two new appointments.
Peter Rayner has been employed as Commercial Manager at the University's Buxton Campus and Gary Johnson has joined the University as Theatre Manger.
Gary Johnson - Theatre Manager
Gary Johnson, 34, has taken on the role of theatre manager at the Derby Theatre. He comes with a wealth of valuable experience including being part of the management team who re-opened the Capitol Theatre in Horsham in 2003 after a £6.8million refurbishment to the Art Deco venue.
Gary also worked for the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, London where he successfully introduced commercial activity and new methods of maximising revenue.
Gary started his career as an actor; his professional experience includes parts in the BBC's London Bridge, Casualty and The Bill. He also appeared in ITV's Press Gang.
Gary has toured the country with Fecund Theatre in their productions of The Haunted Eye and The End. He's also appeared on stage in Cinderella and Joseph at the Theatre Royal in Windsor, Macbeth at The Wycombe Swan and The Oedipus Plays at The National Theatre.
Gary has produced shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at The Man on The Moon Theatre in London.
Commenting on his appointment Gary said: "This role is a unique opportunity, as far as I know there is no other University running a professional theatre and a learning theatre as one project.
"We've got a huge amount of public support from the people of Derby and I believe that by doing something new and making the theatre more accessible than ever before we can create a business model that other theatres and Universities will want to follow.
"The opportunities provided for students will be incredible. I would have loved the chance to work in a professional environment whilst I was studying. They will learn so much more under the public gaze."
Peter Rayner - Commercial Manager, University of Derby Buxton
In his new role Peter Rayner is responsible for managing and developing the commercial operations across the Buxton Campus.
This includes:
- The Dome Fine Dining Restaurant
- The Devonshire Spa
- The Bistro
- Hair and Beauty
- Events
- Conferencing
Peter brings with him an impressive portfolio of both business development and operational experience including revamping services at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary - Peter's business model was used across other NHS hospitals after gaining approval from the NHS Executive.
He has also worked in South Africa on the government's Black Economic Empowerment initiatives programs launched to redress the inequalities of Apartheid by giving previously disadvantaged groups economic opportunities previously not available to them. It included measures such as Employment Equity, skills development, ownership, management, socio-economic development and preferential procurement.
Peter's appointment brings him full circle. After school he enrolled at Buxton College of Further Education (now part of the University) to study catering. He was voted student of the year in 1974.
Peter worked as a chef at The Savoy Hotel and at St Andrew's Old Course Hotel before deciding to follow the management route.
Commenting on his appointment Peter said: "It's my intention to make the operations at Buxton as commercially viable as possible whilst also enhancing the working environment and opportunities available for students.
"It's important for students to leave University with an understanding of how to operate in the working world, so we'll be maximizing that experience whilst also providing an exemplar experience for our customers."
Andrew Hartley, Commercial Director at the University of Derby said: "We are delighted that Peter and Gary have joined us to take forward two key University priority initiatives.
"The first is to harness and develop our excellent facilities in Buxton with a view to being able to provide a high quality retail operation that is open all year as well as continuing to support real work experience for our students, and the second is the development of Derby Theatre so that the City and the University is recognised as being a centre of excellence for Theatre."
For further media information please contact Annabel Harvey, 01332 593004 or by email: a.harvey@derby.ac.uk.
