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ENO chief executive stands down ENO chief executive stands down
(2 months later)
Loretta Tomasi, after a decade at English National Opera and seven years as its chief executive, is to step down by the end of the year.Loretta Tomasi, after a decade at English National Opera and seven years as its chief executive, is to step down by the end of the year.
Tomasi's decision, according to an ENO spokeswoman, was "very personal... amicable and calm". The chairman of the company, Martyn Rose, said that the board would now consider "how best to ensure that ENO has the leadership it needs".Tomasi's decision, according to an ENO spokeswoman, was "very personal... amicable and calm". The chairman of the company, Martyn Rose, said that the board would now consider "how best to ensure that ENO has the leadership it needs".
Tomasi said that the decision to step down had been "immensely difficult" but that it was "the right time for me to choose a new path".Tomasi said that the decision to step down had been "immensely difficult" but that it was "the right time for me to choose a new path".
Tomasi, known for her no-nonsense, tough leadership style, has been one of the most powerful women in the British arts scene.Tomasi, known for her no-nonsense, tough leadership style, has been one of the most powerful women in the British arts scene.
She was controversially appointed as the chief executive of the company, alongside current artistic director John Berry, in a hurried boardroom move in 2005 without a public appointments procedure – an act at the time condemned by unions at the company as "very shortsighted", but justified by the board as necessary to stabilise the then crisis-ridden company. Leading figures in the opera world, including director Deborah Warner and former ENO general director Peter Jonas, also publicly questioned the decision not the advertise the positions.She was controversially appointed as the chief executive of the company, alongside current artistic director John Berry, in a hurried boardroom move in 2005 without a public appointments procedure – an act at the time condemned by unions at the company as "very shortsighted", but justified by the board as necessary to stabilise the then crisis-ridden company. Leading figures in the opera world, including director Deborah Warner and former ENO general director Peter Jonas, also publicly questioned the decision not the advertise the positions.
Tomasi has fought to stabilise the finances of the company, making redundancies and cost savings. There have been periods of financial calm – in 2009, she announced that the company was "in the best place it has ever been" and well placed to ride out the recession.Tomasi has fought to stabilise the finances of the company, making redundancies and cost savings. There have been periods of financial calm – in 2009, she announced that the company was "in the best place it has ever been" and well placed to ride out the recession.
But things have been more difficult in the recent past. In its annual report for 2011-12, the company posted losses of £2.2m. By May this year its deficit stood at £800,000, and a new season balancing more challenging work with tried-and-tested revivals was announced.But things have been more difficult in the recent past. In its annual report for 2011-12, the company posted losses of £2.2m. By May this year its deficit stood at £800,000, and a new season balancing more challenging work with tried-and-tested revivals was announced.
At the time Tomasi said that her aim was to "turn this round" and have a balanced budget, if not "a tiny surplus", by the end of the 2013-14 season.At the time Tomasi said that her aim was to "turn this round" and have a balanced budget, if not "a tiny surplus", by the end of the 2013-14 season.
Tomasi's resignation comes in the wake of a 5% cut announced for the arts at the comprehensive spending review this June. Arts Council England is currently completing a review into opera and ballet provision in England, and the process for arts organisations of applying for ACE funding for 2015-16 onwards is expected to begin later this year.Tomasi's resignation comes in the wake of a 5% cut announced for the arts at the comprehensive spending review this June. Arts Council England is currently completing a review into opera and ballet provision in England, and the process for arts organisations of applying for ACE funding for 2015-16 onwards is expected to begin later this year.
Rose said: "Loretta's contribution to ENO over the last decade has been immense. She has steered the company through challenging times and enabled it to build a national and international reputation for excellent, highly dramatic opera that makes ENO unique."Rose said: "Loretta's contribution to ENO over the last decade has been immense. She has steered the company through challenging times and enabled it to build a national and international reputation for excellent, highly dramatic opera that makes ENO unique."
Tomasi paid tribute to ENO, saying: "It has been a privilege to lead this amazing and extraordinary company, full of talented, dedicated people who all work so hard to produce the finest work."Tomasi paid tribute to ENO, saying: "It has been a privilege to lead this amazing and extraordinary company, full of talented, dedicated people who all work so hard to produce the finest work."
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