Karen Napier to step down as Chief Executive of ENB

[aileen]

She is stepping down after only three months in the job and is to be replaced by Caroline Thomson (previously at the BBC) on an interim basis.

 

Who knows what the back story is!

[Ian Macmillan]

From today's Links, there's a Guardian piece making the announcement and, other than a "didn't quite fit" comment, that's as far as the background goes:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2013/may/29/caroline-thomson-english-ballet-position

 

But NB that the Thomson appointment is reported as part-time and interim.

[restor]

Ah the news is out - Lady Liddle just what ENB needs.

[Jan McNulty]

Ah the news is out - Lady Liddle just what ENB needs.

 

 

?

[Ian Macmillan]

Janet:  I seem to have mislaid my Debrett's, but it appears that Caroline Thomson and Lady Liddle may be one and the same:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Thomson

[Jan McNulty]

Thanks Ian.  I was obliquely seeking clarification from restor about the meaning of the comment.

[aileen]

Caroline Thomson is married to Lord Liddle. For once I agree with restor! I'm not convinced that someone from a generously publically funded organisation like the BBC is right for ENB. She is only an interim appointment, but interim appointments often turn into full appointments. Having said that, Tony Hall seems to have been a success at the ROH. I wonder why Karen Napier didn't work out. On paper she was a very good appointment, having come from another arts organisation which seems to have been successful in reaching out to a diverse audience. However, if someone in a very senior position of leadership is not right for whatever reason I feel that it is better that s/he go straight away rather than hang on for months in the hope that things will improve, which is very unlikely. I thought that it was odd that the previous chairman of the ENB board, who had presumably been instrumental in replacing Wayne E, and the previous chief executive, Craig Hassall, both stepped down as soon as Tamara was appointed.

[alison]

That's funny: I thought Hassall's departure preceded Eagling's?

[Anna C]

I thought he did too; Craig Hassall's departure was announced a good few months before Wayne Eagling's.

[aileen]

There are articles announcing Craig Hassall's new position in Australia in February last year. Tamara was finally announced as the new AD of ENB in April but Wayne's possible and then actual departure was known about for weeks before that although he did not actually leave until August.

[Anna C]

Craig Hassall's depature was announced in November 2011.

 

Anyway, back to the original topic, it will be interesting to see what happens next...