Former Pinewood exec Lucy McCutcheon lined up to head 3 Mills Studios

Lucy McCutcheon and Paul de Carvalho

Former Pinewood Studios executive Lucy McCutcheon has been appointed to the newly created role of head of sales and client services at East London’s 3 Mills Studios.

The senior leadership hire is part of a planned succession that will see her step into the role of head of studios later this year.

McCutcheon will join 3 Mills in February and work with current head of studios Paul de Carvalho during an extended handover period. She will formally take over leadership of the company when de Carvalho steps down later in the year.

She brings more than 20 years of experience from previous stints in senior roles at Pinewood Studios, BBC Studioworks, Twickenham Studios and, most recently, Elstree Studios.

De Carvalho, who has spent nearly 11 years at 3 Mills Studios and more than eight years as head of studios, plans to return to Australia with his family.

His impending departure follows a tenure that saw the studio expand, navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, capitalise on the boom in high end TV production and adapt to the ongoing global screen sector slowdown.

McCutcheon’s appointment forms part of a wider recruitment programme at 3 Mills, aimed at strengthening its operational capabilities and reinforcing its focus on client service as the studio prepares for its next phase of growth.

Numerous TV shows have been filmed at the studio over the years, including MasterChef, Big Brother, Luther, Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK and Bad Girls.

McCutcheon said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining 3 Mills. Paul leaves a tremendous legacy, and I’m delighted to be entrusted with the responsibility of building upon that.

“The studio has a strong creative reputation and ambitious plans for the future, and I’m greatly looking forward to working with the team and our clients to support the delivery of high-quality film and television content across multiple platforms.”

De Carvalho said: “It has been a true pleasure to lead and be part of the 3 Mills Studios team over the past 11 years. We are much more than a facility for hire, we are real partners in production for our film, television, theatre and music clients, and I’m incredibly proud of the creative hub we’ve built here.

“I’m very happy that Lucy and I will have time to work together, and I’m excited for the studio’s future under her leadership. 2026 is going to be a hell of a year at 3 Mills.”