VMI was set-up in 1979 as a family business by the late Jeff Bassett and is run today by Barry Bassett, Kevin Oaten, Chau Chong, Ian Jackson and Stuart Neate and our Directors and Management Team have more than 200 years of combined experience between them.
VMI Managing Director with 30 years of Broadcast experience and an MBA from Imperial College. Barry runs VMI, managing key clients, projects and business planning. Barry delivers most of the VMI events and presentations, writes widely and has spoken at MIP in Cannes. the Edinburgh Festival, Broadcast Live Show, HD Show and Production Show in London, the EMIT show in Frankfurt and many others besides.
Barry sits on the board of ASPEC, the Association of Studio and Production Equipment Companies and the Park Royal Business Group. He is also part of the Bank of England decision maker panel and chaired the trailblazer group to design and implement the UK’s first Camera Technician Apprenticeship standard.
VMI Executive Director, Ian Jackson (Assoc BSC) has 16 years experience as a Camera Operator/DoP and recently as a Director. He has worked on 150 episodes of Holby over the past 8 years in both roles. Ian comes from a crew and Drama background and shares their same interests which is really unusual for a client contact. Ian runs the Drama department and his background and experience means that he is ideally suited to it.
VMI Director of Engineering with 30 years of Film and Broadcast experience. Kevin held positions at Technovision, ARRI (GB) and VFG before joining VMI in 2005. A certified ARRI and Zeiss technician, he has an excellent knowledge about lenses and cameras. Kevin oversees investments in new products and kit at VMI.
VMI Director, Stuart Neate runs VMI’s Rental Desk and has 20+ years experience in the industry and is also an essential part of VMI’s operation. Stuart and his expert team ensure that they match your production’s needs with the most suitable equipment and achieve this both at a competitive rate and with a smile.
VMI Financial Director, Chau Chong has 30+ years experience in accounting and is an essential part of VMI’s operation. Chau expertly runs the Accounting department and brings a professional and level-headed approach to ensuring that this runs silky-smooth!
Michael is VMI’s Operations Manager and brings 30 years Industry experience, 26 years of which were running the Camera Department of rental company, Aimimage. Michael likes to work along side the Techs and Camera Crews to ensure that they have the kit that they require, the WAY that they like it! He brings a wealth of experience with him and VMI is a better place for it. He likes to run a very tight ship.
VMI’s Head of Cameras, Mike Rosario works alongside Michael White in the London office bringing masses of experience during his 30 years spent in such illustrious companies as Samuelsons, where he started his career, then later ARRI Media, Panavision, Take 2 and PixiPixel before joining VMI in 2021. As Head of Cameras, he supervises equipment preparation, technical support and mentoring and training the apprentices and trainees.
VMI Bristol branch is run by Branch Manager Gary Davis, who joined VMI in 2007, after a freelance production career in Dubai and the Middle East, before relocated to Bristol in 2015. Gary manages the rental desk of the Bristol office overseeing all equipment bookings and is responsible for managing all aspects of the Bristol operation.
Jon is VMI Bristol’s Operation’s Manager and has been in post for 23 years, 16 of which was with The Hire Company which pre-dates the acquisition which became VMI Bristol.
Jon has a wealth of experience working with Natural History crews and likes to work along side the Techs to ensure that the kit is presented EXACTLY the way they like it!.
An avid go-kart driver with an eye for detail, he is a real asset to the team.
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