2016-2023
Broadcast Consultant/Executive Producer: International Content Group (ICG)/BattleBots Inc.
BattleBots is the world's most popular robotic combat series, with 80 hours currently being produced for Discovery Channel in the USA (and formerly on ABC). It is also shown in 150 countries around the world. In addition to being Executive Producer of the television series, Tom is also President, International and Business Development of BattleBots, Inc, responsible for the worldwide rollout and commercial development of the brand. BattleBots is currently seen in over 150 countries. He also devised and directed BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon, the nightly Vegas theater show.
Broadcast Consultant/Executive Producer: International Content Group (ICG)/BattleBots Inc.
BattleBots is the world's most popular robotic combat series, with 80 hours currently being produced for Discovery Channel in the USA (and formerly on ABC). It is also shown in 150 countries around the world. In addition to being Executive Producer of the television series, Tom is also President, International and Business Development of BattleBots, Inc, responsible for the worldwide rollout and commercial development of the brand. BattleBots is currently seen in over 150 countries. He also devised and directed BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon, the nightly Vegas theater show.
2009-2023
Director and Chair (since 2013) of Northern Film and Media (NFM), now North East Screen
The regional creative agency for the North East of England. During his time as chair, Tom has helped to reshape the structure and finances of the agency, and conceived and launched the NFM Academy, which has been training local crew in the skills needed for primetime network drama. NFM won two Royal Television Awards in 2020 for its successful development of regional production talent.
2007-2016
CEO Standing Stone Productions
Standing Stone Productions was the production subsidiary of Vine Media, based in the UK. Standing Stone was established in Newcastle upon Tyne and developed programming for international broadcasters. It produced Loveland for Sky One and the Fox network in the US, the world's first reality gameshow Hot Seat, sold to Debmar Mercury. It also sold a reality format to the Fox network called The Ideas Factory.
2010-12
Founder Non-Executive Director, ScreenReach Interactive Ltd
ScreenReach is a mobile content platform that revolutionises the relationship between consumers, advertisers and broadcasters. It allows people to interact with content in real time using their mobile phones and not only enjoy different levels of content, but also enables advertisers to have a direct relationship with their consumers. See Screach.com.
Creative Director/Consultant, News 3
News 3 was the regional news multi-media consortium, formed by Trinity Mirror, The Press Association and Ten Alps plc, which was awarded the English Independently Funded News Consortium Pilot (IFNC) against stiff opposition from ITN and UTV. Tom was responsible for devising and writing the television content of the bid, and if the new coalition government had proceeded with the pilot, he would have become Creative Director for the project's launch. Unfortunately the incoming Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, replaced the IFNCs with his own plans for local television franchises.
2010-2014
Marketing Consultant, PhusionIM (formerly Pearson-Harper Ltd)
Pearson-Harper Ltd, the Teesside-based engineering information management company, which specialises the handling of data on large scale multi-national projects, underwent a major expansion and sought the services of Tom Gutteridge to advise them on their marketing and development strategy. He helped to rebrand and refocus their business communications as the comopany grew exponentially.
2008-2012
Chair, Skillset North (Media Industry Skills Panel)
Creative Skillset was the Skills Council for the Creative Industries, and its North Industry Panel had 40 leaders from all the creative industries in the North of England, from Broadcasting to Film, Radio, Advertising, Fashion, Computer Games, Digital Technology, Journalism and Publishing.
2003-2005
CEO FremantleMedia North America Inc.
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is one of America's leading production and distribution companies, responsible for three of the most successful franchises: American Idol, Family Feud, and The Price Is Right. Tom was headhunted by FremantleMedia to be its CEO at the end of 2003. During his time at the helm, the company substantially strengthened its development team, with several projects being piloted for US broadcasters. It also moved into comedy, with projects for Sci-Fi, VH1, Sundance and OLN, and substantially expanded its production and development slates. In 2004 the company also produced The Swan and The Complex for FOX, Distraction for Comedy Central, How Clean Is Your House for Lifetime, and 'American Idol' consolidated its position as the number one entertainment series in the world. Tom left FremantleMedia in March 2005, and took a year's sabbatical, during which he gave a lecture tour in Australia and New Zealand.
2002-2003
Group Creative Director The Television Corporation plc
Following its acquisition of Tom Gutteridge's company Mentorn, The Television Corporation plc (TTC) became Britain 's second largest independent production company (after Endemol UK – Source Broadcast Magazine March 2003). Tom Gutteridge sat on the main Board of the plc, and was responsible for the creative development of the group. After 2000, when TTC acquired Mentorn, the proportion of turnover and profits derived from Content (as distinct from the group's other interest, Facilities) more than tripled. In 2003, as Group Creative Director, he decided to concentrate on expanding the group's interests in North America, and soon secured a multi-million dollar US network series, the 35 episode Paradise Hotel, with a turnover of around $30m. Tom was Executive Producer of the series, which became one of the major US TV successes in 2003. He left The Television Corporation at the end of 2003 to join FremantleMedia as CEO of its North American operation.
2001-2002
Director of Content and Marketing The Television Corporation plc
In addition to his continuing responsibilities at Mentorn, Tom undertook the role of Director of Marketing, and was responsible for repositioning and rebranding the Group, merging its various production and distribution divisions, and devising a Communications and Advertiser Funded Programming strategy. He also established the Group's new International division, which specialised in format sales and international production.
2000-2004
Chair, The Mentorn Group and Director The Television Corporation plc
Tom and the other directors of Mentorn expanded the company's turnover from £14m (2000) to more than £32m (2003). The company produced more than 70 projects or series per year, with around 1000 hours of production ranging from Entertainment to Documentaries, Current Affairs to Popular Factual.
1985-2000
Founder/CEO Mentorn
By the beginning of the 90s, Tom had grown Mentorn into Britain 's largest production company (Source: Television Magazine, 1990). Tom owned 100% of the Group until its acquisition of Barraclough Carey Productions and Folio Productions in 1996. The Group employed around 200 people, excluding the freelances working on individual productions. In 1998 Mentorn acquired a major share of the radio group Orchard FM for £2.25m and sold it 10 months later for £6m. Mentorn was sold to The Television Corporation plc in 1999/2000 at which point Tom joined the main board of the plc. He remained as Chair/CEO of Mentorn until 2002.
Part Time roles:
Broadcasting Consultant, Camelot plc
Tom was invited to join the Camelot plc consortium for the British National Lottery, where he devised and wrote the bid's broadcasting strategy. Following the Group's successful bid, Tom became the National Lottery's Broadcasting Consultant for three years, responsible for advising Camelot on all lottery television and radio programming.
Non-Executive Director Orchard FM Group
Mentorn became the largest shareholder of Orchard FM (a group of radio stations in the South West of England ) and less than a year later Tom led the Group to a successful outright sale to GWR plc. Mentorn's initial stake of £2.25m was sold for around £6m.
Pre-1985
Executive Producer BBC Television
Prior to founding Mentorn in 1985, Tom was a distinguished BBC producer of arts and entertainment programmes. Before that he trained in News and Current Affairs, working on daily and weekly news and documentary series as Producer and Director. He began his career as a BBC News Trainee.
Non-Executive Director/Chair, Northern Film and Media, North East Screen
2008-2019
Visiting Professor, School of Arts and Media, University of Teesside
2008-2012
Chair, Skillset North (Media Industry Skills Panel)
2007-2017
Columnist, Newcastle Journal
2001-2
Vice Chair Royal Television Society
2000-3
Trustee National Film and Television School Foundation
Trustee Birmingham Museum of Science and Discovery (ThinkTank)
1996-
Fellow Royal Television Society, "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the furtherance of Television".
1994-2004
Council Member British Screen Advisory Council
1992-3
Chair of PACT (Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television), where Tom launched two groundbreaking campaigns: the UK's 25% Regional Production Quota and the bid for tax incentives for the British Film Industry, which a decade later had transformed the commercial status of the British film industry. He negotiated the PACT/BBC Terms of Trade, which revolutionised the UK production sector.
Director and Chair (since 2013) of Northern Film and Media (NFM), now North East Screen
The regional creative agency for the North East of England. During his time as chair, Tom has helped to reshape the structure and finances of the agency, and conceived and launched the NFM Academy, which has been training local crew in the skills needed for primetime network drama. NFM won two Royal Television Awards in 2020 for its successful development of regional production talent.
2007-2016
CEO Standing Stone Productions
Standing Stone Productions was the production subsidiary of Vine Media, based in the UK. Standing Stone was established in Newcastle upon Tyne and developed programming for international broadcasters. It produced Loveland for Sky One and the Fox network in the US, the world's first reality gameshow Hot Seat, sold to Debmar Mercury. It also sold a reality format to the Fox network called The Ideas Factory.
2010-12
Founder Non-Executive Director, ScreenReach Interactive Ltd
ScreenReach is a mobile content platform that revolutionises the relationship between consumers, advertisers and broadcasters. It allows people to interact with content in real time using their mobile phones and not only enjoy different levels of content, but also enables advertisers to have a direct relationship with their consumers. See Screach.com.
Creative Director/Consultant, News 3
News 3 was the regional news multi-media consortium, formed by Trinity Mirror, The Press Association and Ten Alps plc, which was awarded the English Independently Funded News Consortium Pilot (IFNC) against stiff opposition from ITN and UTV. Tom was responsible for devising and writing the television content of the bid, and if the new coalition government had proceeded with the pilot, he would have become Creative Director for the project's launch. Unfortunately the incoming Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, replaced the IFNCs with his own plans for local television franchises.
2010-2014
Marketing Consultant, PhusionIM (formerly Pearson-Harper Ltd)
Pearson-Harper Ltd, the Teesside-based engineering information management company, which specialises the handling of data on large scale multi-national projects, underwent a major expansion and sought the services of Tom Gutteridge to advise them on their marketing and development strategy. He helped to rebrand and refocus their business communications as the comopany grew exponentially.
2008-2012
Chair, Skillset North (Media Industry Skills Panel)
Creative Skillset was the Skills Council for the Creative Industries, and its North Industry Panel had 40 leaders from all the creative industries in the North of England, from Broadcasting to Film, Radio, Advertising, Fashion, Computer Games, Digital Technology, Journalism and Publishing.
2003-2005
CEO FremantleMedia North America Inc.
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is one of America's leading production and distribution companies, responsible for three of the most successful franchises: American Idol, Family Feud, and The Price Is Right. Tom was headhunted by FremantleMedia to be its CEO at the end of 2003. During his time at the helm, the company substantially strengthened its development team, with several projects being piloted for US broadcasters. It also moved into comedy, with projects for Sci-Fi, VH1, Sundance and OLN, and substantially expanded its production and development slates. In 2004 the company also produced The Swan and The Complex for FOX, Distraction for Comedy Central, How Clean Is Your House for Lifetime, and 'American Idol' consolidated its position as the number one entertainment series in the world. Tom left FremantleMedia in March 2005, and took a year's sabbatical, during which he gave a lecture tour in Australia and New Zealand.
2002-2003
Group Creative Director The Television Corporation plc
Following its acquisition of Tom Gutteridge's company Mentorn, The Television Corporation plc (TTC) became Britain 's second largest independent production company (after Endemol UK – Source Broadcast Magazine March 2003). Tom Gutteridge sat on the main Board of the plc, and was responsible for the creative development of the group. After 2000, when TTC acquired Mentorn, the proportion of turnover and profits derived from Content (as distinct from the group's other interest, Facilities) more than tripled. In 2003, as Group Creative Director, he decided to concentrate on expanding the group's interests in North America, and soon secured a multi-million dollar US network series, the 35 episode Paradise Hotel, with a turnover of around $30m. Tom was Executive Producer of the series, which became one of the major US TV successes in 2003. He left The Television Corporation at the end of 2003 to join FremantleMedia as CEO of its North American operation.
2001-2002
Director of Content and Marketing The Television Corporation plc
In addition to his continuing responsibilities at Mentorn, Tom undertook the role of Director of Marketing, and was responsible for repositioning and rebranding the Group, merging its various production and distribution divisions, and devising a Communications and Advertiser Funded Programming strategy. He also established the Group's new International division, which specialised in format sales and international production.
2000-2004
Chair, The Mentorn Group and Director The Television Corporation plc
Tom and the other directors of Mentorn expanded the company's turnover from £14m (2000) to more than £32m (2003). The company produced more than 70 projects or series per year, with around 1000 hours of production ranging from Entertainment to Documentaries, Current Affairs to Popular Factual.
1985-2000
Founder/CEO Mentorn
By the beginning of the 90s, Tom had grown Mentorn into Britain 's largest production company (Source: Television Magazine, 1990). Tom owned 100% of the Group until its acquisition of Barraclough Carey Productions and Folio Productions in 1996. The Group employed around 200 people, excluding the freelances working on individual productions. In 1998 Mentorn acquired a major share of the radio group Orchard FM for £2.25m and sold it 10 months later for £6m. Mentorn was sold to The Television Corporation plc in 1999/2000 at which point Tom joined the main board of the plc. He remained as Chair/CEO of Mentorn until 2002.
Part Time roles:
Broadcasting Consultant, Camelot plc
Tom was invited to join the Camelot plc consortium for the British National Lottery, where he devised and wrote the bid's broadcasting strategy. Following the Group's successful bid, Tom became the National Lottery's Broadcasting Consultant for three years, responsible for advising Camelot on all lottery television and radio programming.
Non-Executive Director Orchard FM Group
Mentorn became the largest shareholder of Orchard FM (a group of radio stations in the South West of England ) and less than a year later Tom led the Group to a successful outright sale to GWR plc. Mentorn's initial stake of £2.25m was sold for around £6m.
Pre-1985
Executive Producer BBC Television
Prior to founding Mentorn in 1985, Tom was a distinguished BBC producer of arts and entertainment programmes. Before that he trained in News and Current Affairs, working on daily and weekly news and documentary series as Producer and Director. He began his career as a BBC News Trainee.
Organisations
2009-2023Non-Executive Director/Chair, Northern Film and Media, North East Screen
2008-2019
Visiting Professor, School of Arts and Media, University of Teesside
2008-2012
Chair, Skillset North (Media Industry Skills Panel)
2007-2017
Columnist, Newcastle Journal
2001-2
Vice Chair Royal Television Society
2000-3
Trustee National Film and Television School Foundation
Trustee Birmingham Museum of Science and Discovery (ThinkTank)
1996-
Fellow Royal Television Society, "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the furtherance of Television".
1994-2004
Council Member British Screen Advisory Council
1992-3
Chair of PACT (Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television), where Tom launched two groundbreaking campaigns: the UK's 25% Regional Production Quota and the bid for tax incentives for the British Film Industry, which a decade later had transformed the commercial status of the British film industry. He negotiated the PACT/BBC Terms of Trade, which revolutionised the UK production sector.
