walker_and_essex

(l-r) Claire Walker and Hannah Essex

Changing Faces

SOLT and UK Theatre appoint co-CEOs

India Stoughton
2 min read

HANNAH ESSEX and CLAIRE WALKER are the new joint Chief Executives of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre.

They replace JULIAN BIRD, who left the organisations in May, and will start work on 12 September.

Essex and Walker are currently co-Executive Directors at the British Chambers of Commerce and before this they were co-Directors of Communications for Teach First. 

The pair are regarded as trailblazers in the concept of co-leadership, using a single point of contact and joint accountability for all objectives. 

“They are inspirational leaders who will bring an outstanding combination of experience, dynamism and passion to both organisations,” said ELEANOR LLOYD, President of SOLT, adding that their work at the British Chambers of Commerce, especially during the pandemic, “puts them in a perfect position to support our members and champion the theatre industry in this new chapter”. 

“As lifelong theatre fans, we believe passionately that a thriving theatre sector is crucial to improving social, cultural and economic prosperity in the UK,” the duo said.

“Having supported businesses large and small through the Brexit process and the pandemic, we are familiar with many of the issues facing SOLT and UK Theatre members in these challenging economic times.”