Ambassador Theatre Group's Howard Panter Knighted for Services to Theatre

Creative Entrepreneur, Howard Panter, the co-founder, Joint CEO and Creative Director of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG) has received a Knighthood in The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2013 for services to theatre.

"I am absolutely delighted to have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List and humbled to receive this prestigious award," said Panter in a statement. "It a source of great pride that Britain continues to recognise those within our world-renowned creative industries, and in particular in theatre. I also believe the honour is in part a recognition of a great British success story, ATG. I would like to thank the incredible people that have worked alongside me, mentored and inspired me throughout my career. I reserve special gratitude to my wife and partner in all that I do, Rosemary Squire, without whom much of what has been achieved would not have been possible."

Panter has been a key figure in theatre for more than 40 years. Alongside his wife and business partner, Rosemary Squire OBE, Panter has topped The Stage 100 four times consecutively, from 2010 to 2013.

Under Panter's leadership, ATG has become the U.K.'s leading Theatre Group and one of the most prolific theatre producers in the world with co-productions in London, New York, across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

As Creative Director of ATG Productions, Panter has produced and co-produced musicals, dance, and drama. He has been responsible for producing some of the brightest lights from film and television in the theatrical world, from Damian Lewis, to Simon Callow, to Keira Knightley, to Ewan McGregor.Panter has also been responsible for commissioning many writers, including Peter Ackroyd and Jonathan Bate.

Since ATG's founding in 1992, the company has grown to be the U.K.'s largest theatre group with a total of 39 venues in Britain, and one in the U.S. with 4,000 employees. The company recently acquired The Foxwoods Theatre, the largest theatre on Broadway and is now further expanding its portfolio overseas in key international territories including North America, Australia, and Asia Pacific.

Panter has been the catalyst behind some of the most important production companies in the West End, U.K. regions, and Broadway, including Sonia Friedman Productions, Jamie Lloyd Productions, Jerry Mitchell Productions, First Family Entertainment, Theatre Royal Brighton Productions, and Tali Pelman Productions.

Panter's diverse production credits include Macbeth starring James McAvoy, The Hothouse starring Simon Russell Beale and John Simm, Passion Playstarring Zoë Wanamaker, Posh, Jumpy starring Tamsin Greig, Constellations starring Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins (Royal Court at the Duke of York's), Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Legally Blonde The Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot, The Rocky Horror Show, Goodnight Mister Tom, The Mystery of Charles Dickens, Lincoln Center's production of South Pacific, All New People starring Zach Braff, Ghost The Musical, Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker!, Being Shakespeare starring Simon Callow, The Misanthrope starring Damian Lewis and Keira Knightley, West Side Story, Elling, andGuys and Dolls, starring Ewan McGregor.

On Broadway, his credits have included The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, Exit the King starring Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon, and John Doyle's award winning productions of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company.

During his career, Panter has worked with world-renowned organisations such as The Royal Court Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and Michael Codron Ltd. Panter has also worked as a Director and Lighting Designer and trained at LAMDA.

Panter is a Director of the Rocky Horror Company Limited, was Chairman of The English Shakespeare Company and Director of West End theatre owners Maybox Group plc. He served on the LAMDA Development Council and is currently Chair of Rambert Dance Company. Rambert recently raised over £20m required to build their magnificent new home on London's South Bank, directly behind The National Theatre.