Cameron Mackintosh produced his first show 40 years ago and since then has produced hundreds of productions all over the world including the three longest running musicals in Broadway history, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables. He has also produced Miss Saigon, Little Shop of Horrors, Side By Side By Sondheim, Follies, and the acclaimed revivals of My Fair Lady, Oliver! and Oklahoma!

In 2004 he produced with Disney the smash hit stage adaptation of Mary Poppins which opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre in November 2006. He is also co-producing the London version of Avenue Q.

This October the original production of Les Miserables becomes the longest running musical in the world taking over from the former record holder, Cats.

He owns seven theatres in London's West End - the Prince of Wales, Gielgud, Queens, Wyndham's, Noel Coward, Novello and Prince Edward, all of which are going through a massive refurbishment programme.

In 1995 his company received The Queen's Award for Export Achievement and he was knighted in the 1996 New Year's Honours for his services to British Theatre.

He is President of the Royal Scottish academy of Music and Drama and in 1990 he endowed the Chair of Contemporary Theatre at St. Catherine's College, Oxford, where he is also an Honorary Fellow and Member of the Court of Benefactors.