Paul Rothwell has quit his post as joint managing director of RSA
Films to join Chris Palmer and Frank Budgen at Gorgeous Enterprises.
Budgen and Rothwell worked together for five years at the Paul Weiland
Film Company and they were colleagues at BMP DDB in the late 80s.
Rothwell left Paul Weiland for RSA last November after the departure of
the previous RSA managing director, Jo Godman.
Rothwell said: ’Frank and Chris are two of the most outstanding
directors in commercials. Few people can match their understanding of,
or commitment to, the business. I’m sad to leave RSA, but I’m thrilled
at the opportunity of working with Chris and Frank to build a new force
in commercials production.’
Adrian Harrison will take over as the sole managing director of RSA,
having shared the title with Rothwell since last November, but no
changes are expected in the management style of RSA’s London office.
’Paul and I did quite a bit together in getting the offices and the
computers sorted.
We remain friends and I am now looking to the future,’ Harrison
said.
Budgen left Paul Weiland to set up in partnership with Chris Palmer last
week (Campaign, 26 September).
Rothwell may produce for Budgen at Gorgeous, but his primary role is to
run the expanded company, which is now headed by three ex-agency
people.
Rothwell joined from BMP’s TV department in 1989. Two years later,
Budgen, then the deputy creative director at BMP, also joined the
production company as a director.
Palmer, the director who had started Gorgeous nearly two years ago, was
a found-ing member of Simons Palmer Denton Clemmow and Johnson.
Budgen said: ’We’re playing a two-one system with me and Chris up front
and Paul in defence. Although it will be creatively led, the place will
have a good, solid back-up.’
Tim Marshall will continue to work as Palmer’s producer. His recent
credits include Cellnet ’word up’, Guinness ’statistics’ and the most
recent commercial for Sony Playstation. Budgen’s reel includes Virgin
Atlantic ’grim reaper’, Central Beheer’s ’Clinton’ and the Holsten Pils
Denis Leary campaign.
Gorgeous also represents Enda McCallion and Chris & Murray.
