Press Release: English National Ballet announces new Executive Director

[Jan McNulty]

English National Ballet announces Anu Giri as Executive Director

Today, English National Ballet announce the appointment of Anu Giri as its new Executive Director, taking up the position on 6 January 2025.

 

A skilled senior executive and experienced arts leader, Anu joins English National Ballet from the British Film Institute where she has been Director of Business and Operations, responsible for business planning, income generation and operational delivery of BFI venues and festivals. 

 

Prior to this, she held the position of Executive Director for Dance Umbrella from 2014 to 2018, as well as Co-Director of English National Ballet School, where she launched the ‘My First’ series of children’s ballets in partnership with English National Ballet. Previously, she spent ten years at Arts Council England, including seven years as Head of Dance for the London region.

 

Of her appointment, Anu Giri said: “I am thrilled to be joining English National Ballet as Executive Director. With its pioneering approach to evolving the artform, ENB has always been a company I’ve greatly admired and respected. It’s a real honour to be working alongside Artistic Director, Aaron Watkin, Chief Operating Officer, Grace Chan, and the Company’s experienced leadership team to ensure that ENB continues to open up ballet to audiences across the UK and around the world.”

 

Sir Rupert Gavin, Chair of English National Ballet added: “On behalf of the Board of Trustees I would like to say how delighted we are that Anu will be joining English National Ballet. We welcome her to the Company and have no doubt that her exceptional leadership and wealth of experience will ensure ENB continues to thrive long into the future.

 

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Executive Director, Patrick Harrison, for his tireless dedication and work towards making ENB the success it is today” 

 

Working in partnership with the Artistic Director and Chief Operating Officer, the Executive Director sets the strategic direction for English National Ballet, inspires and leads staff, and supports the executive team to manage the organisation and deliver the Company’s output. 

 

Anu’s appointment as Executive Director follows June’s announcement that Patrick Harrison will step down from the role in late 2024 to take up the position of CEO of The Royal Ballet School. 

 

 

Notes to Editors 

English National Ballet is a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. Ballymore is Principal Building Partner of English National Ballet. 

 

About Anu Giri
Anu is currently Director of Business and Operations, venues and festivals at the BFI leading on financial strategy, growing commercial opportunities, strategic partnerships and operational delivery. Prior to this she was Head of Business & Operations for London Film Festival encompassing over 600 screenings and live events to an annual audience of 300,000. She was Executive Director at Dance Umbrella festival from 2014-2018, responsible for business development, finance and fundraising. Before this she was Co-Director of English National Ballet School where she developed the ‘My First’ series of children’s ballets in partnership with English National Ballet and set up ENBS Juniors – high quality children’s ballet classes across 3 London boroughs.

 

From 2003 - 2010 she was at Arts Council England and Head of Dance from 2003; General Manager at Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company; Education Administrator at Birmingham Royal Ballet; managed small-scale dance companies Chitraleka and Company and Claire Russ Ensemble and was Projects Administrator at Dance 4, National Dance Agency.

 

She co-presented Network East for BBC2, trained in Indian Classical Dance and is currently Deputy Chair of Battersea Arts Centre, and on the board of Tara Theatre.

 

About English National Ballet 

English National Ballet has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has been at the forefront of ballet’s growth and evolution ever since. 

 

English National Ballet brings world class ballet to the widest possible audience through performances across the UK and on eminent international stages; its distinguished orchestra, English National Ballet Philharmonic; its digital platforms Ballet on Demand and BalletActive; being a UK leader in creative learning and engagement practice, building innovative partnerships to deliver flagship programmes such as Dance for Parkinson’s; and through talent development initiatives including Ballet Futures which looks to create a more diverse and inclusive future for the artform. 

 

English National Ballet continues to add ground-breaking new works to its repertoire whilst celebrating the tradition of great classical ballet, gaining acclaim for artistic excellence and creativity. 2019 saw the Company enter a new chapter in its history with a move to a purpose-built state-of-the-art home in east London, allowing a renewed commitment to creativity, ambition, and connection to more people, near and far, than ever before.