Association of British Orchestras Chief Exec to step down

MARK PEMBERTON has announced he will be stepping down as Chief Executive of the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) at the end of September, after 15 years in the role.

During his tenure, the ABO says Pemberton successfully championed the interests of Britain’s professional orchestras and the UK’s classical music industry during a turbulent period.

He received an OBE in this year's New Year Honours and played a critical role in advocating for the public value of orchestras, by growing the organisations membership and developing its annual conference into Europe’s largest orchestral gathering.

He said that two years dominated by Brexit and the pandemic had taken a toll and pledged to work with the board to find a successor “with the energy and drive that I was able to bring to the role 15 years ago”. 

“I have hugely enjoyed my time at the ABO, and can look at back at some significant triumphs, from seeing off the Class 1 National Insurance threat to persuading the Treasury to implement Orchestra Tax Relief,” he added.