Birmingham Hippodrome announces new CEO
THE Birmingham Hippodrome has confirmed its new chief executive in succession to Stuart Griffiths.
Australian Fiona Allen, who began her career at the Sydney Opera House, will take up the post in the autumn.
Griffiths, the current CEO and TheBusinessDesk.com’s current Business Ambassador for the West Midlands, moves to the Ambassador Theatre Group in July. His move was announced in January.
Ms Allan has had over 20 years experience in the cultural sector, with a career that spans both artistic and organisational leadership. She has been chief executive of Leicester’s acclaimed Curve Theatre since 2011 and before that, served as Artistic Director of the Wales Millennium Centre.
Her career started at Sydney Opera House where she was Head of Programming, before being appointed CEO of Sydney Film Festival.
She has led a programme of organisational expansion at Curve, overseeing the development of a new artistic strategy and a growing reputation for supporting new musical theatre, the expansion of its conference and events business, and the development of a comprehensive programme of community and learning activity.
Under her leadership Curve has seen financial success and is now recognised as a leading visitor attraction for the region, and a driver of Leicester’s social, cultural and economic development. IN addition, Ms Allen also sits on the national boards of UK Theatre and Dance Consortium UK.
Announcing her appointment, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Chair, John Crabtree said: “We are delighted that Fiona has agreed to join us at such an exciting time in our continued growth.
“Our diverse programme and loyal audiences, our fantastically engaged education and community programmes, and our commitment to world-class standards in all that we do puts us in the perfect position to achieve future ambitions with like-minded partners under Fiona’s leadership. With my fellow trustees and the whole team at the Hippodrome, I look forward to working with Fiona as we enter a new phase in our history.”
Ms Allan said: “I could not be more thrilled to be joining the brilliant team at Birmingham Hippodrome at this exciting moment in the venue’s journey. It’s a nationally acclaimed organisation with infinite potential that has achieved so much under Stuart Griffiths in recent years, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to be part of its, and Birmingham’s, future.”
Last year the Hippodrome enjoyed record-breaking paid admissions, exceeding 625,000.
