Sir Howard Hugh Panter (born 25 May 1949) is a British theatre impresario and theatre operator.
He was founder, co-owner, joint chief executive and creative director of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd, the world's number one live-theatre company with almost 50 venues in Britain, the US and Europe.
Panter and his wife/business partner, Dame Rosemary Squire, remain the second largest shareholder of ATG.Under his leadership, ATG became from scratch one of the most prolific, broad-based theatre producers in the world with productions in the West End and on Broadway including touring productions in the UK, North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
As Creative Director of ATG Productions, Panter produced and co-produced musicals and drama for the West End, internationally and on national tours.
Panter is currently co-founder, Joint CEO and Creative Director of Trafalgar Entertainment, a live entertainment business and home to Trafalgar Studios, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Trafalgar Releasing (formerly Picturehouse Entertainment), Chiswick Cinema and Stagecoach Performing Arts.The production arm of the company, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, is producing a group of new shows and classic musicals in London and internationally including the Lincoln Center's award-winning production of The King and I at the London Palladium and now worldwide, The Rocky Horror Show worldwide and at Trafalgar Studios; A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East's production of Equus by Peter Shaffer, The Wardrobe Ensemble's hit comedy Education, Education, Education, the acclaimed award-winning play Admissions starring Alex Kingston, new British musical Tom Morris' The Grinning Man, Apologia starring Stockard Channing and Killer Joe starring Orlando Bloom.
Other co-productions and transfers to Trafalgar Studios have included the two sell-out ground breaking new British productions: the Bush Theatre's Misty and the National Theatre's Nine Night.The largest shareholder of Trafalgar Entertainment is Barings Alternative Investment, which operates as a subsidiary of MassMutual Holding LLC, with assets under management of US$771 billion.
Other shareholders include Greg Dyke, James Tanner, NWH Consulting Ltd, Sir Richard Branson and Griffon Corporation.Panter is a Director of Rocky Horror Company Limited.
He was Chairman of the English Shakespeare Company and Director of West End theatre owners Maybox Group plc.
He serves on the LAMDA Development Council and was Chair of Rambert Dance Company for ten years.
Under Panter's Chairmanship, Rambert Dance Company successfully built their award-winning new dance centre on the South Bank and led the company into a new era of success and stability.Panter and Squire, have been ranked in The Stage 100 newspaper's guide to the 100 most influential people in UK Theatre.
Between 2010 - 2016 they topped The Stage 100 for seven years making them the most successful entrants on the list ever.In 2013, the pair were placed first in the Evening Standard 'Power 1000' Theatre section.
Panter received a knighthood in the 2013 Birthday Honours.In 2019, Woking Borough Council bestowed Honorary Freedom of the Borough upon Panter and Squire, both long-serving members of the community.