Catherine Mallyon

Photo: Simon Hadley

Changing Faces

Mallyon to Chair Birmingham Hippodrome

Arts Professional
2 min read

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust has announced CATHERINE MALLYON as Chair. 

Mallyon joined the Hippodrome as a trustee in March and will move into her new role in December. At the same time, she will step down as Executive Director, Governor and Board member at the Royal Shakespeare Company,  a position she has held for eleven years. 

Following an early career in arts management and a stint as General Manager at Oxford Playhouse, Mallyon became Deputy Chief Executive of Southbank Centre, leading the organisation's operational activity, including the reopening of Royal Festival Hall after refurbishment.

She has been Chair of the Advisory Board for Bristol and has Board experience at Arts Council England, Society of London Theatre, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Creative Industries Federation. 

As the first female Chair at the Hippodrome, Mallyon succeeds GLENN HOWELLS, who was appointed in 2018. 

Artistic Director and CEO JON GILCHRIST said Mallyon's "phenomenal expertise" combined with her "commitment to the region" has already proved invaluable. 

Giving thanks to Howells, he added: “Glenn has helped steer the organisation through some of our most challenging times and played a leading role in developing our extraordinary Board of trustees.”

Mallyon said: “Birmingham Hippodrome is a brilliant theatre, serving its wide community.

"Since I joined the Board, I have been inspired by the skill and commitment of the trustees, and it is such an honour to be now appointed Chair.

"I look forward to working with the Board and the whole Hippodrome team on our exciting plans for the future; to providing memorable and extraordinary experiences; to being an integral part of a vibrant Birmingham cultural scene; and to always being people-focused, inclusive and sustainable."

Further changes in the Board will see current trustee HARJ KAUR MILLINGTON become Deputy Chair in December following the departure of ANN TONKS, who has been a trustee at Birmingham Hippodrome since 2014. A trained lawyer, Millington is the Commercial Director and Co-owner of Rewired PR and has been on the Board since 2016.