our leadership team
The Marlow Studios management team draws on decades of experience in the film and TV industry, as well as expertise across real estate, design and environmental management.
We are passionate about the success of the British film industry, and passionate about expanding opportunities for local people in the growing creative sector.
We are a local team, living in the area and committed to maintaining the beauty, environment, and architectural tradition of Marlow.
We are passionate about the success of the British film industry, and passionate about expanding opportunities for local people in the growing creative sector.
We are a local team, living in the area and committed to maintaining the beauty, environment, and architectural tradition of Marlow.
ROBERT LAYCOCK
CEO & CO-FOUNDER
Robert brings 30 years of experience in the British film and TV industry as a producer, editor and writer. He is currently working on an adaptation of the celebrated cult novel The Magus with Sir Sam Mendes and Dame Pippa Harris.
Robert is also an executive partner of the Ian Fleming Estate, including the creative opportunities of the James Bond franchise. He lives on an organic farm near Marlow, and is a dedicated supporter of sustainable agriculture.
Robert is also an executive partner of the Ian Fleming Estate, including the creative opportunities of the James Bond franchise. He lives on an organic farm near Marlow, and is a dedicated supporter of sustainable agriculture.
WILLIAM STONOR
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
William has over 20 years of professional experience in international corporate finance and as a member of HM Diplomatic Service. As Lord Camoys he is also the custodian of Stonor Park, one of the region’s most historic houses. He has managed the estate since 2016, and his commitment to environmental issues sits at the heart of his work protecting Stonor’s landscape and grounds.
William is also a trustee of Nepal’s National Trust for Nature Conservation and a member of the House of Lords.
William is also a trustee of Nepal’s National Trust for Nature Conservation and a member of the House of Lords.
SIMON BARROWCLIFF
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Simon is a seasoned property professional and has spent a career of 40 years in the industry as a trusted advisor to some of the world’s largest investors, as well as a company director and consultant.
As head of international investment in London at the world's largest property advisory company, CBRE, Simon has been involved in many high-profile transactions in the UK and across North America, Western and Eastern Europe. He lives in the Chilterns, where he is currently the chairman of a property investment company. Simon also sits on a number of charities’ boards and is an active volunteer for a mental health charity.
As head of international investment in London at the world's largest property advisory company, CBRE, Simon has been involved in many high-profile transactions in the UK and across North America, Western and Eastern Europe. He lives in the Chilterns, where he is currently the chairman of a property investment company. Simon also sits on a number of charities’ boards and is an active volunteer for a mental health charity.
JOHN HARTZ
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
John has spent his career in financial services, initially at PwC, and later across private equity, co-founding the UK-based Inflexion in 1999. John is passionate about the environment and over the last 20 years has planted millions of trees and invested in renewable energy.
He and his family also support a range of charities focused on improving outcomes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. John is particularly keen that Marlow Film Studios will be energy efficient and sustainable and will provide training opportunities for young people in the local area.
He and his family also support a range of charities focused on improving outcomes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. John is particularly keen that Marlow Film Studios will be energy efficient and sustainable and will provide training opportunities for young people in the local area.
Our Advisory Council
Marlow Film Studio’s management team is supported by an advisory council of leading figures from the UK’s creative industries.
LORD ED VAIZEY OF DIDCOT
Chair of our advisory council
Lord Ed Vaizey of Didcot was appointed to the House of Lords in 2020, and until recently sat on the Communications and Media Committee.
A Member of Parliament for Wantage between 2005 and 2019, he is the longest serving Culture and Digital Minister (2010-16) and was appointed a privy councillor in 2016. He oversaw introduction of film, television and video games tax credits, and reformed the British Film Institute. He currently serves as a trustee of Tate, the world’s most successful museum for contemporary and modern art. He is Chair of the Advisory Panel for Marlow Film Studios.
Our advisors will support us in realising our plans for Marlow Film Studios providing informal guidance and feedback on key policies, industry trends and plans.
A Member of Parliament for Wantage between 2005 and 2019, he is the longest serving Culture and Digital Minister (2010-16) and was appointed a privy councillor in 2016. He oversaw introduction of film, television and video games tax credits, and reformed the British Film Institute. He currently serves as a trustee of Tate, the world’s most successful museum for contemporary and modern art. He is Chair of the Advisory Panel for Marlow Film Studios.
Our advisors will support us in realising our plans for Marlow Film Studios providing informal guidance and feedback on key policies, industry trends and plans.
DAME PIPPA HARRIS
Film & TV Producer
Pippa Harris is an Oscar nominated, Bafta award-winning, film and television producer, who established Neal Street Productions in 2003 alongside Sam Mendes and Caro Newling.
The company’s work includes the hugely successful BBC/PBS series Call the Midwife which Pippa has Executive Produced for over a decade, as well as the multi-award winning First World War movie, 1917, which Pippa produced. Neal Street’s work also includes the acclaimed, Tony award-winning play The Lehman Trilogy for the National Theatre. Pippa also produced Starter for Ten, executive produced Things We Lost in the Fire, Away We Go and the Oscar-nominated Revolutionary Road, as well as the feature documentary, We Are Many. Most recently Pippa has produced Empire of Light starring Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward, written and directed by Sam Mendes.
Following her tenure as Chair of the Academy for BAFTA, Pippa is now it’s Vice President of Television. Pippa is also Chair of Charleston, a museum and gallery which was home of the Bloomsbury group. She is an Ambassador for Women for Women International and a Patron of the neonatal charity Best Beginnings. Previously, she was the Head of Drama Commissioning for the BBC. In 2015 she was made a Dame in the Dissolution Honours.
The company’s work includes the hugely successful BBC/PBS series Call the Midwife which Pippa has Executive Produced for over a decade, as well as the multi-award winning First World War movie, 1917, which Pippa produced. Neal Street’s work also includes the acclaimed, Tony award-winning play The Lehman Trilogy for the National Theatre. Pippa also produced Starter for Ten, executive produced Things We Lost in the Fire, Away We Go and the Oscar-nominated Revolutionary Road, as well as the feature documentary, We Are Many. Most recently Pippa has produced Empire of Light starring Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward, written and directed by Sam Mendes.
Following her tenure as Chair of the Academy for BAFTA, Pippa is now it’s Vice President of Television. Pippa is also Chair of Charleston, a museum and gallery which was home of the Bloomsbury group. She is an Ambassador for Women for Women International and a Patron of the neonatal charity Best Beginnings. Previously, she was the Head of Drama Commissioning for the BBC. In 2015 she was made a Dame in the Dissolution Honours.
AMANDA NEVILL CBE
Former CEO of the British Film Institute
Amanda was CEO of the British Film Institute , the internationally recognised cultural organisation, and the leading body for film and the moving image in the UK, a Government Arms-length Body (ALB).
She was responsible for the continued development of the overall film and tv ecosystem, using her in- depth experience of strategy development and delivery to protect the UK’s competitive position and ensure it remained the most creatively exciting and prosperous territory for filmmakers and audiences alike.
Amanda has a deep rooted commitment, and belief in inclusion and diversity. One of her achievements was the wide adoption of the BFI diversity standards for film production, alongside the creation of the BFI Film Academy which seeks out and finds career opportunity for those with talent no matter their background. This work has been recognised with both the Veuve Clicquot Social Purpose Award 2018, and The Barclays Business Women in Film & TV Award 2016.
In 2020 she left the BFI after 17 years and is now actively using her experience of 30 years as a CEO, leader of people and transformer of organisations to pursue a portfolio career.
Her motto is "Make exciting things happen."
She was responsible for the continued development of the overall film and tv ecosystem, using her in- depth experience of strategy development and delivery to protect the UK’s competitive position and ensure it remained the most creatively exciting and prosperous territory for filmmakers and audiences alike.
Amanda has a deep rooted commitment, and belief in inclusion and diversity. One of her achievements was the wide adoption of the BFI diversity standards for film production, alongside the creation of the BFI Film Academy which seeks out and finds career opportunity for those with talent no matter their background. This work has been recognised with both the Veuve Clicquot Social Purpose Award 2018, and The Barclays Business Women in Film & TV Award 2016.
In 2020 she left the BFI after 17 years and is now actively using her experience of 30 years as a CEO, leader of people and transformer of organisations to pursue a portfolio career.
Her motto is "Make exciting things happen."
BARONESS JANE BONHAM-CARTER
Liberal Democrat & Spokesperson for DCMS
Jane Bonham-Carter is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords where she is Spokesperson for DCMS.
Her original career was in television, first in New York working for Lorne Michaels and NBC. Back in the UK she joined the BBC where she worked on Panorama and Newsnight, among other programmes. She then moved to Channel 4 where she was programme Editor of A Week In Politics.
In 1996 she became the Liberal Democrats' Director of Communications, a role she held through the 1997 election before returning to a career in television at Brook Lapping Productions.
In 2004 she entered the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat Peer.
She was a Visiting Parliamentary Fellow of St Antony’s College, Oxford 2013-2014. She was on the Board of the National Campaign for the Arts from 2010-2012, and has been a trustee of The Lowry since 2011, and of One Dance UK since 2020. She has been a patron of the Studio Theatre, Salisbury since April 2015 and on the advisory board of Messums, Wiltshire since 2019. She is on the Steering Group of the Marie Colvin Journalist’s Network. She was HMG Cultural & Trade Envoy to Mexico from 2013-2020.
Her original career was in television, first in New York working for Lorne Michaels and NBC. Back in the UK she joined the BBC where she worked on Panorama and Newsnight, among other programmes. She then moved to Channel 4 where she was programme Editor of A Week In Politics.
In 1996 she became the Liberal Democrats' Director of Communications, a role she held through the 1997 election before returning to a career in television at Brook Lapping Productions.
In 2004 she entered the House of Lords as a Liberal Democrat Peer.
She was a Visiting Parliamentary Fellow of St Antony’s College, Oxford 2013-2014. She was on the Board of the National Campaign for the Arts from 2010-2012, and has been a trustee of The Lowry since 2011, and of One Dance UK since 2020. She has been a patron of the Studio Theatre, Salisbury since April 2015 and on the advisory board of Messums, Wiltshire since 2019. She is on the Steering Group of the Marie Colvin Journalist’s Network. She was HMG Cultural & Trade Envoy to Mexico from 2013-2020.
GARETH NEAME OBE
Film & TV Producer
Gareth Neame OBE is a BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe award-winning TV and film producer and executive. He has been CEO of Carnival Films since 2004 and responsible for many popular shows, most notably the global TV phenomenon Downton Abbey, winner of three Golden Globes and fifteen Primetime Emmys. With a total of 69 nominations, Downton is the most nominated non-US show in Emmy history and the UK’s most successful scripted export. Two subsequent Downton Abbey films (released in 2019 and 2022) also enjoyed huge box office success.
In a career spanning over 30 years, Neame has been behind numerous award-winning and highly-acclaimed shows such as Spooks, State of Play, Hustle, The Hollow Crown, Jamestown, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries, Belgravia, and most recently The Gilded Age for HBO. He also produced five seasons of the hugely popular The Last Kingdom for Netflix, with a spin-off movie Seven Kings Must Die released earlier this year. Neame is currently serving as executive producer on Belgravia: The Next Chapter for MGM and The Day Of The Jackal for Peacock & Sky, and is in post-production on the second series of The Gilded Age, which will be released on HBO later this year.
In 2014, Neame was announced by 10 Downing Street as an Ambassador of the GREAT Britain campaign, and was appointed OBE in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours list. He has also been listed in the Variety 500 index of most influential business leaders in the global entertainment industry.
In a career spanning over 30 years, Neame has been behind numerous award-winning and highly-acclaimed shows such as Spooks, State of Play, Hustle, The Hollow Crown, Jamestown, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries, Belgravia, and most recently The Gilded Age for HBO. He also produced five seasons of the hugely popular The Last Kingdom for Netflix, with a spin-off movie Seven Kings Must Die released earlier this year. Neame is currently serving as executive producer on Belgravia: The Next Chapter for MGM and The Day Of The Jackal for Peacock & Sky, and is in post-production on the second series of The Gilded Age, which will be released on HBO later this year.
In 2014, Neame was announced by 10 Downing Street as an Ambassador of the GREAT Britain campaign, and was appointed OBE in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours list. He has also been listed in the Variety 500 index of most influential business leaders in the global entertainment industry.
SIR HOWARD STRINGER
Former Chairman of the Board of Sony Corporation
Sir Howard Stringer was Chairman of the Board of Sony Corporation until June 2013, having previously served as CEO of the Sony Corporation for seven years and before that President of the Sony Corporation of America to include Colombia Pictures, Studios and Television, Sony music, Sony Electronics and Sony PlayStation.
Prior to joining Sony in 1997, Sir Howard had a distinguished career as a journalist, producer, senior executive of documentaries and evening news, and then President of the broadcasting network CBS from 1988 to 1995 where he was responsible for all the broadcast activities of its entertainment, news, sports, radio and tv stations. He is currently the Executive Producer of Thoroughbred Productions, a London-based TV and film production company.
Sir Howard served as Chairman of the American Film Institute Board of Trustees from 1998-2019 and was Chair of the School Board at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford from 2013-18; he is now a member of their Global Leadership Council. He was President of the Merton Society Council from 2016-19 and is a Fellow of the College.
Prior to joining Sony in 1997, Sir Howard had a distinguished career as a journalist, producer, senior executive of documentaries and evening news, and then President of the broadcasting network CBS from 1988 to 1995 where he was responsible for all the broadcast activities of its entertainment, news, sports, radio and tv stations. He is currently the Executive Producer of Thoroughbred Productions, a London-based TV and film production company.
Sir Howard served as Chairman of the American Film Institute Board of Trustees from 1998-2019 and was Chair of the School Board at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford from 2013-18; he is now a member of their Global Leadership Council. He was President of the Merton Society Council from 2016-19 and is a Fellow of the College.
MARCUS ANTHONY THOMAS
Film Director
Marcus completed the NFTS Directing Fiction MA course in 2021 and his films have since been screened and won awards at several BAFTA and Oscar Qualifying film festivals. His horror/thriller The Retreat released online via Short of the Week and Alter, and his Graduation film Caterpillar won Best Student Film at Norwich Film Festival and an RTS Award.
Upon graduating Marcus was selected for an elite 16 month mentorship scheme with WarnerMedia where he shadowed the Showrunners & Directors on HBOs House of the Dragon, finishing in July 2022. Since then Marcus has co-created The Directors' Take Podcast which aims to demystify to pathway to becoming a working director and is currently developing his next project titled SPACE PLUG in partnership with Disney x NFTS.
Marcus participates on the Marlow Film Studios’ Advisory Council on its Observer Programme.
Upon graduating Marcus was selected for an elite 16 month mentorship scheme with WarnerMedia where he shadowed the Showrunners & Directors on HBOs House of the Dragon, finishing in July 2022. Since then Marcus has co-created The Directors' Take Podcast which aims to demystify to pathway to becoming a working director and is currently developing his next project titled SPACE PLUG in partnership with Disney x NFTS.
Marcus participates on the Marlow Film Studios’ Advisory Council on its Observer Programme.
