Paul Rumsey Biography

Rumsey was born in California but grew up in England.  As a teenager he volunteered during his summer holidays from school to work as a music teacher for the Elizabeth Johnson Organization where he taught approximately 40 exchange students from Yugoslavia, Italy, France and Germany.  He also worked for the Alton Archeological society working on local site excavations.  It was during these years that Rumsey started DJ’ing at local clubs and, upon leaving college, pursued a broadcasting career with Radio Caroline as their ‘Roadshow’ DJ.  In the 80s he returned to California to pursue his career, starting as a DJ on radio stations KDHI, KQYN and KCSB, and as a news announcer for KWVE. During this period he completed a Broadcast Communications degree and became a popular night club DJ in Los Angeles where he also was one of the first DJ’s to pioneer and incorporate an MTV style music video mix show into a large live club environment to record crowds.    

In the mid 80s Rumsey completed a BA degree in Broadcast Communications and later  studied with Farmers Insurance and graduated as a licensed Fire, Casualty and Life Insurance Agent. He achieved the rank of number one Reserve Agent in production sales for the district.  He left the company to focus on cable television production.  He studied television production, lighting, camera and production techniques.  After completing the course and working on a variety of cable TV shows in various capacities, Rumsey became Producer of ‘World of Flying’, a weekly aviation show, and later created and produced ‘The Amateur Comedy Showcase’.  He was also Production Coordinator for the ‘Bob Hope U.S.O. Show’ in Las Vegas and other celebrity and large arena events.  In addition, he managed and developed the careers of country artists Craig Colley, Kris Neville and other acts, and upon the suggestion of Randy Travis’ Manager Lib Hatcher, Rumsey was nominated and accepted for membership to the prestigious Country Music Association.

While pursuing his entertainment industry goals during the day, Rumsey started working night shifts in a large mainframe data centre, studying Computer Operations, resulting in him becoming a VAX Operator.

During the day Rumsey created, produced and hosted the successful magazine format radio show ‘London Calling’ on KWIZ (Los Angeles), targeting the British community but surprisingly also attracting a large American audience (total estimated listenership was 450,000). He marketed commercials for ‘London Calling’ to such diverse companies as MTV, the Daily Express newspaper (International Edition) and Graham & James Attorneys.  The show also supported nonprofit groups such as the British American Chamber of Commerce (BACC) and the Grove Shakespeare Theatre Group.

Rumsey has also appeared in the movies ‘Strange Days’ and ‘Tyson’ (HBO Films) and has freelanced as a Foreign Correspondent for the former Radio Mercury (UK). 

In the 90’s Rumsey worked as Marketing and Publicity Manager and Consultant for Bodyman Fitness Group.  He also worked as Executive Assistant for the BACC (now British American Business Council, OC Chapter) in California.  He had varied responsibilities including working with visiting dignitaries, celebrities and local business leaders.  His main focus was on fund raising and event management, a highlight of which was having a one-to-one lunch with Richard Branson…someone he had admired for years.

In 1997 Rumsey joined Financial Network Investment Corporation (now ING Advisors Network) as an IT Operations Supervisor, and was promoted to IT Operations Manager in 2000, holding this position until

15 April 2004.  He declined a management opportunity offered by IBM in order to relocate his family back to the UK. 

In the UK he has settled with his family in Horsham, West Sussex and has worked for a leading UK insurer, esure, for the past 11 years.

He is ambitious and looks forward to his next leadership role where he can utilize his diverse IT, communication, marketing and emergent leadership skills.

Rumsey’s hobbies include setting up an online radio station, kjazzradiouk.com, which reaches a growing global audience publicized only by social media and featuring musicians from around the world.  He also enjoys flying whenever he can, a highlight of which was piloting a former military jet (Folland Gnat), which saw service with the Red Arrows.  Rumsey is an active member of the British Computer Society, enjoys photography and has set up a number of Flickr groups.  He also volunteers his time to help educate children about astronomy.