Dan Dark, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Studio Operations at Warner Bros., has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the UK film industry.

In the mid-90s, Eon Productions approached him to develop Leavesden Aerodrome into a studio for the production of Goldeneye and, following, he continued to run the site as a film studio which became home to all eight Harry Potter films, before it became Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in 2011.

Dark has had a long and distinguished career in the film industry, starting in the mid-1990s when he was approached by Eon Productions to develop Leavesden Aerodrome into a studio for the production of Goldeneye. He continued to run the site as a film studio, which became home to all eight Harry Potter films, before it became Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in 2011.

Dark has also been involved in the development of other major film studios in the UK, including Pinewood Studios and Shepperton Studios. He is currently responsible for overseeing studio operations for Warner Bros. in both Burbank and Leavesden, as well as production services, which includes set lighting, grip, costume, property, archives, transportation, construction and office services, and worldwide security.

“ I am a great believer in honour and I am a great believer in respect. I wanted to honour and respect the fact I had been given the award.
I think the health of the UK film and TV industry is really strong. I still believe we have the greatest environment for big blockbuster film production and we have the best technicians in the world, and long may that continue.”.
– Dan Dark

Dark’s OBE is a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding contribution to the UK film industry. He is a true pioneer who has helped to shape the industry into what it is today.