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West End theatre group LW Theatres has announced the appointment of two new Co-CEOs – Jules Arnott and Darren Atkins.

Jules Arnott and Darren Atkins have both been promoted internally into the newly created Co-CEO positions.

Arnott and Atkins, along with CFO Lawrence Chapman, have been leading Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatre chain since June 2021. LW Theatres consists of six West End venues: the Adelphi Theatre, Cambridge Theatre, Gillian Lynne Theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre, London Palladium, and Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The news comes after September’s announcement that Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group is getting a new CEO, with James McKnight taking over this December from former MGM TV exec Charles Farmer, who was less than a year in the role.

Jules Arnott has held the role of Chief Commercial Officer at LW Theatres since 2018, leading Food & Beverage, ticketing, partnerships and the group’s commercial success. Prior to her CCO role, Arnott led brand and marketing strategy for the business. Her previous roles include at AEG at The O2.

Darren Atkins has held the role of Chief Operating Officer since 2018, and is responsible for the running and programming of the company’s theatres. He started out working front-of-house, before joining LW Theatres in junior and then senior theatre management positions. He had a stint at Nimax Theatres as Operations Manager in 2006 and Operations Director in 2010, before heading back to LW as Operations Director in 2016.

Lawrence Chapman has also been elevated, to Group CFO across LW Theatres and Lloyd Webber’s production and rights management outfit The Really Useful Group. He has been CFO of LW Theatres since 2021. His previous roles include at Deutsche Bank, Riverhill Partners and PwC.

Co-CEO Jules Arnott said in a statement: “It’s a privilege to take on this role with one of the most prestigious brands in theatre. Commercially this is a really exciting time for the business, as we continue to grow both our traditional and emerging revenue streams, while remaining committed to reinvesting all profits back into our theatres. We’re also modernising the way we do business – from increasing our focus on the intelligent use of technology and data, to moving the needle on critical issues like inclusion and sustainability. We’ve made a lot of progress already, but there’s plenty left to do; I’m excited for what lies ahead.”

Darren Atkins said: “I started out in theatre nearly thirty years ago as an ice-cream seller, so it’s safe to say I’ve seen every corner of this industry! Stepping into this new position, my focus remains unchanged: putting producers, promoters and audiences at the heart of everything we do. As custodians of six iconic West End theatres, we have a deeply-held responsibility to preserve and build on the legacy of these venues. I am immensely proud and privileged to continue working alongside our fantastic theatre teams who make the extraordinary happen, eight shows a week.”

Deputy Chairman Madeleine Lloyd Webber, who is also the wife of composer and producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to announce these leadership changes, and all three are a reflection of the brilliant work done over recent years. I’m excited to see how Darren and Jules’ complementary skills can drive LW Theatres forward into its next phase of growth, and am delighted that the whole Group will now benefit from Lawrence’s astute financial leadership.”

Current productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s work in London includes Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre and The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty’s Theatre; and coming up is a brand new production of Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London.

The Phantom of the Opera

His Majesty's Theatre, London

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The Phantom of the Opera
Main photo: LW Theatres - Co-CEOs Darren Atkins & Jules Arnott. Photo courtesy of LW Theatres

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