Birmingham Hippodrome boss Griffiths steps down

STUART Griffiths OBE, chief executive of Birmingham Hippdrome, has stepped down from the role after 12 years.

He is leaving to become programming director for Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG).

Since his appointment in 2002, Griffiths has led the Hippodrome to become the most popular single theatre in the UK with record-breaking paid admissions last year exceeding 625,000. 

He has also firmly established the theatre as a centre for dance, co-producing the award-winning International Dance Festival Birmingham since 2008 with Hippodrome resident partners DanceXchange.

Griffiths takes up his new role in July 2015 as ATG continues its UK and international expansion. He will work with its managing director (content) Michael Lynas to deliver productions to the group’s 39 venues. 

The search for a suitable successor for Birmingham Hippodrome is now underway led by Hippodrome chair John Crabtree.

Griffiths said: “I feel hugely privileged to have had the opportunity to work with a fantastic team at Birmingham Hippodrome for over 12 years which have been the most exciting and rewarding of my career.

“I have been very lucky to have been generously supported throughout that time by wonderful colleagues and trustees.

“I am also grateful for the opportunity to have been involved with a number of city projects and organisations all of whom are working to ensure Birmingham is a vibrant, dynamic and prosperous city with a thriving cultural sector.

“I will be very sorry to leave Birmingham and the Hippodrome, especially as it is so well positioned with ambitious plans in the pipeline. However, I am delighted to be joining ATG at an exciting time in its development.”

Crabtree said: “I know I join many Hippodrome supporters in my praise and admiration for Stuart who has grown the theatre beyond all our expectations. 

“His knowledge and expertise in the sector, along with his inspirational leadership and ambition, has been of unparalleled benefit to artists, audiences and participants, and for the city’s wider cultural reputation.” 

Griffiths won the Ambassador category in TheBusinessDesk.com’s West Midlands Business Masters Awards 2014 for his achievement in attracting so many visitors to Birmingham and for his attempts to introduce closer links between the cultural and business sectors.

This year’s Masters Awards were launched earlier this week .