• Robbie Ashcroft

    Managing Partner

    After a short stint in TV advertising, Robbie helped establish Dentsu entertainment business The Story Lab in 2014. Robbie went on to broker an innovative partnership with Global to co-produce podcasts that could scale to screen and his first credit as executive producer was the number one hit Hunting Ghislaine with John Sweeney. The podcast was subsequently optioned for television.

    Robbie also set up a pioneering development fund with Yahoo Studios for indies to integrate its XR smart-stage into the next generation of unscripted entertainment shows.

    He is a long suffering Evertonian and resides in East London with his cockney better half. Robbie has fully converted to a diet of pie, mash and liquor; his order is an infamous "4 & 2".

  • Gemma Batterby

    COO and Founder

    Gemma founded Free Turn following fifteen years at WPP driving new business and marketing.

    She’s been recognised as a ‘Woman of Tomorrow’, an award designed to "recognise and champion the exceptional female talent working in media”. Today she makes podcasts, films and TV shows, and is across everything we do at Free Turn, keeping the projects, team and organisation aligned.

    She recently had a gorgeous baby girl. She has no cats and is married to an American. She lives somewhere in East London and is a dab hand at growing vegetables.

  • Ron Downey

    Executive Chairman

    Ron is an entrepreneur, founder and CEO in streaming media technology; exec-chair, NED and angel investor with current early-stage investments.

    He joined us as shareholder and Executive Chairman in 2023 to exercise his passion for film and TV, with his first movie in development with Free Turn.

    He lives in West Sussex with his wife, dogs, horses, pigmy goats and miniature donkeys, and loves to host.

  • Thisbe Barnett

    Audio Producer

    Thisbe is Producer at Free Turn and loves getting involved in all the exciting projects that are happening.

    At the age of 18, Thisbe went on to do a Musical Theatre degree at the Urdang Academy where she graduated with a first. She started performing at the young age of 2 ½ and it’s still a huge passion of hers. She keeps up the passion by going to the theatre as much as she can, and when Thisbe started working at Free Turn she discovered a new love for creating entertainment.

    Thisbe is ¼ Greek Cypriot and lives in Essex with her mum, dad and two younger sisters.

    She loves to travel and once played tennis against Andy Murray! Thisbe is also a massive foodie, so she’s your go to for London restaurant recommendations!

  • Nick Hamm

    Director and Founder

    BAFTA award winning director and producer Nick Hamm began his career as a resident director with the Royal Shakespeare Company.  He has directed feature films for Miramax, Film Four, Pathé and Lionsgate, working with talent such as Robert De Niro, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Thandie Newton, Timothy Spall, Lee Pace, Corey Stoll, Helena Bonham Carter, and Pete Postlethwaite.

    Hamm has also directed and executive produced high profile television dramas both in the UK and US. In the summer and fall of 2019, Hamm directed the pilot and three subsequent episodes of Netflix’s White Lines, by Alex Pina – a limited series about a Mancunian DJ who disappeared on the island of Ibiza in the 90s. 

    In 2022 he produced and directed “Gigi and Nate”. He is presently in pre-production for his next feature.

    He would be lost without his wife Jen.

  • Will Matthews

    Producer

    After graduating with a 1st class English and Film degree from King's College London, Will worked in multiple roles across the film and television industry in research, development and production before settling at talent agency The Artists Partnership.

    While learning the ropes of the industry from the high-octane agency world, Will continued to flex his production muscles by producing short films. Most recently he produced Charlotte Hamblin's 'Not A Mourning Person' starring Tara Fitzgerald.

    He now works in production and development at Free Turn, predominantly on the period adventure drama Wilhelm Tell.

    When not shooting arrows he plays the drums.

  • Jel Groman

    Director and Founder

    Jel was one of the founding members of Free Turn. Previously he was Executive Creative Director at Firecracker Films, an award-winning production company responsible for hits such as My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Daredevils and Born in the Wrong Body. There he created and led the branded entertainment output.

    With a passion for craft and narrative Jel has created pioneering work for the likes of Nike, Jaguar, Mazda, Vodafone, Adidas, Johnnie Walker and more.

    Jel sold Firecracker Films in 2012 to Tinopolis, an international production and distribution group.

    He has a dog, plentiful cats, two lovely daughters and a wife called Alice. He does a mean BBQ.