Executive Director joins Northern Ballet

DAVID COLLINS is appointed Executive Director at Northern Ballet, commencing early 2023.

He is replacing outgoing Chief Executive MARK SKIPPER, who will retire this month following 26 years in post. 

Collins will join Northern Ballet from Opera North, where he is currently Executive Director and Deputy CEO at Opera North. He first started working with the opera company in 2016 as Director of External Affairs, leading the marketing, box office, communications, digital and development teams and more recently oversaw the Music Works £18m redevelopment programme.

He is also a Trustee of Opera Europa, the international service organisation for professional opera companies and festivals in Europe and Pilot Theatre, the Yorkshire-based touring company. 

At Northern Ballet, Collins will join forces with Artistic Director FEDERICO BONELLI, who says he looks forward to begin working with Collins to shape Northern Ballet’s plans for the future, both on and off-stage.

“David’s reputation as an inspiring, passionate and proactive arts leader speaks for itself, as do his recent successes at Opera North. I’m delighted that he’ll be helping me in the months and years to come, building on Mark Skipper's outstanding legacy and taking the Company to new heights,” Bonelli added. 

“I’m thrilled by the prospect of working in partnership with Federico and the many skilled people across the Company to shape a future for Northern Ballet that builds on that enduring commitment to create work of relevance for, and with, communities across the country,” Collins said.