English National Opera has put a management consultant in charge in an attempt to solve its financial problems after the company was placed in “special measures” last month by Arts Council England.
Cressida Pollock, 32, a former consultant at McKinsey, has been appointed interim chief executive, a new role that reflects the arts council’s demand for a fresh power structure.
Previously the most senior financial role was the executive director, who reported to John Berry, the company’s artistic director. Ms Pollock will answer only to the board. She replaces Henriette Götz, who resigned as executive director in January amid suggestions that she and Mr Berry were unable to work together.
The company also lost Martyn Rose, its chairman, in January, less than two years after he joined. He claimed that he was stepping down because he could not devote sufficient time to the job, but a leaked letter written in December showed that he had called for Mr Berry’s resignation. “Let me be clear — John is in my mind the problem not the solution and no meaningful change will ever take place whilst he remains,” he wrote to fellow board members.
The board took Mr Berry’s side, as have a list of 33 opera directors and managers who put their names to an open letter published yesterday. The signatories, including Peter Gelb of the Metropolitan Opera, said that the artistic director should be applauded for standing up for art.
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“At a time when it has helped to further embellish London’s reputation as a leading centre of cultural creativity, it doesn’t seem fair for the ENO to now be under fire,” they wrote.
“It is not the fault of the ENO that it is suffering from the same financial woes that many international opera companies are facing these days. Rather than being criticised, Berry and his company should be applauded for their indefatigable efforts to keep our art form fresh.”
The letter was a response to an exceptional rebuke from the Arts Council, which stripped the company of its regular funding for the first time since 1945. ENO will receive £12.4 million in annual grants for two years — £5 million less than its previous subsidy — and £6.1 million of transition funding.
Ms Pollock, who previously worked as an adviser to Zambia’s health ministry, was at McKinsey for two years. One of her clients was ENO. She said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play this role . . . I am greatly looking forward to working closely with the board, John and the senior management team during what is a critical time for ENO.”
Harry Brunjes, acting chairman for ENO, said that “no one has a better understanding of the work that needs to be done in order to be re-admitted to the Arts Council’s national portfolio this November”.