The Team
Absolute's senior management team has over 120 years of combined experience in the music industry - with first-hand involvement in areas such as A&R, production, promotions, marketing, retail marketing, label management, new media marketing, export marketing and business administration.
Henry Semmence - Managing DirectorHenry founded Absolute in 1998. He is the former managing director of sales and distribution company Total Records. During his 30 years in the music industry, he has also held key positions in sales, retail marketing and consumer marketing at Bullet Promotions and Phonogram (now Universal Music). He currently sits on the AIM board.
Interests: Plays golf (badly), supports The Mighty Eagles (Crystal Palace) and enjoys watching any sport (not synchronised swimming).
Simon Wills - Sales and Marketing DirectorSimon has an impressive track record of success in sales, marketing, promotions and label management in the independent sector. He started his music industry career as production manager and later label manager at Total Records, before being appointed general manager of Multiply Records in 1997. He joined Henry Semmence at Absolute in 2000 and became a director and partner in 2004.
Interests: Chelsea F. C. , long jump, and avoiding festivals or anything involving sleeping in tents.
Mark Dowling - Marketing ManagerMark joined Absolute in 2004 after enjoying substantial chart success as label manager at Distinctive Records/Avex and later as head of A&R at Multiply/Telstar. He also gained valuable experience in the compilations market through Telstar brands such as Euphoria.
Interests: Spurs, sarcasm
Rob Dwyer - Production ManagerRob built up extensive retail experience with Virgin Megastores before taking on production roles at Total Records and Distinctive Records. Since joining Absolute in 2003, he has been responsible for project managing the manufacturing and packaging of all new releases - from initial sleeve design through to the finished product.
Interests: QPR
James McGuinness - Mobile ManagerJames started as a manager of a record shop in the West Country and has held various production and presenting roles over the past few years. Prior to joining Absolute, he was with Indie-mobile where he acted as label manager and was responsible for overseeing all marketing and sales activity.
Interests: Liverpool, Guiness and all things from Bristol and the Bristol based area
Richard Austen Smith - Digital ManagerAfter working at Saatchi and Saatchi, he moved into label management at MN2S Records. Before joining Absolute, he was online manager at Defected Records where he gained considerable experience in developing and implementing online strategies.
Interests: All music from Fela Kuti to DFA to Can, Aston Villa, the original Pink Panther films, running club night THROWBACK!
Fran O'Donnell - Administration ManagerFran was one of the first members of Absolute's management team in 1998. She has over 20 years of music industry experience in sales, marketing and label administration. After working alongside Henry Semmence at Bullet Promotions in the 1980s, she formed the Total Record Company with him in 1989.
Interests: Interests: Shoes, handbags, running, family and friends.
John is one of the music industry's most experienced marketing specialists. He has held senior marketing positions with leading independent labels and major record labels such as Polydor, Phonogram and Mercury. He is a former managing director of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's record label Really Useful Records.
Interests:
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