Royal Ballet School announces new leadership structure

Royal Ballet School will create a full-time Chief Executive Officer role for the first time as part of a new management structure instigated by the school's Governors. 

As the search for a CEO continues, Chair of Governors CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUES CBE will act as interim CEO with immediate effect, allowing CHRISTOPHER POWNEY to fulfil his role as Artistic Director until his departure in July.

ANNA BIRKETT will become interim Chair of Governors. 

"Christopher’s decision to leave has given us an opportunity to review our management structure at an important point in the School’s history,” said Rodrigues. 

"As we approach our centenary, the continued development of the School and the scope of our ambition clearly demonstrate to us that the positions of CEO and Artistic Director should be two distinct roles within our organisation for the foreseeable future.

"We believe that creating these two separate positions will strengthen our team and secure the School’s artistic and financial future."

The search for a new Artistic Director will begin in due course.