Ian Freeman

Specialising in in-depth interviews with leisure and entertainment industry professionals

Ian Freeman began his working life as a theatrical agent. A career switch in the mid ‘70s into the advertising industry brought him into direct contact with movie distribution, an industry in which he was to spend over a decade. At CIC UK (later UIP), he held the position of Director of Publicity and Advertising and marketed successful releases such as “Saturday Night Fever”, “Grease” and “Watership Down”. Ian moved to become Deputy Director of Overseas Marketing at EMI Films in the early 1980s. Ian entered the leisure industry in 1986, joining First Leisure Corporation PLC as Publicity Executive. As the company grew, Ian’s accountability increased and by 1995, as Group Head of Corporate Relations, he was responsible at senior level for corporate affairs, external and internal communications and liaison with national media, investors and the financial sector, as well as overall supervision of the PR activities of First Leisure’s individual venues. Ian Freeman left First Leisure in November 1999 following the demerger and sale of its major assets. He is now a freelance journalist and communications consultant operating within the leisure, entertainment and chemicals industries He has written for a variety of business-to-business publications including Leisure Management, Health Club Management, Club Mirror and The Publican. Ian is knowledegable on all aspects of the leisure industry, including operational, property and financial matters. He specialises in in-depth interviews with senior leisure industry figures with a business slant and he has interviewed many of the most influential and iconic leaders in leisure and entertainment including Lord Michael Grade (corporate disclosure: he's my cousin!), luxury hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, property veteran Gerald Ronson, Yo! Sushi founder Simon Woodroffe, Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore, professional Liverpudlian Phil Redmond and veteran nightclub industry pioneer Steve Thomas.

Portfolio
Local Guardian Group (south London)
08/20/2015
Five Thoughts

A little 'grumpy old man' column I wrote for my local newspaper group.

Health Club Management
Jonathan Fisher, CEO of Holmes Place

The Group CEO of Holmes Place talks to Ian Freeman about taking on the baton from his father, about expansion plans, and about a business structure that allows for individual flair across markets.

Leisure Management
Mark Sesnan, Greenwich Leisure Ltd. interview

The London 2012 Aquatics Centre and Multi-Use Arena saw history being made during the Olympics and Paralympics. GLL's managing director talks to Ian Freeman about the challenges of operating the venues in legacy mode

Leisure Management
Godfrey Spanner, MD, Onslow Suffolk

The planned £350m SnOasis winter sports resort has attracted criticism from concerned locals, but developer Onslow Suffolk’s MD Godfrey Spanner is confident he can address all concerns, Ian Freeman finds