Changing Faces

The Royal Shakespeare Company has appointed Liz Thompson as Director of Communications. Formerly Head of External Relations at the Environment Agency, she takes over following the departure of Roger Mortlock.

Justin Lee (pictured) has taken up the new post of Chief Executive at Southbank Sinfonia. He has previously worked for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, as Deputy General Manager at the Academy of Ancient Music, and General Manager of the choir and orchestra, Ex Cathedra.

David Straun is stepping down as Director of Queen Elizabeths Hospital Theatre, Bristol, at the end of the current season, to pursue a career as a freelance director and creative producer.

Dance Base Chief Executive, Lucy Mason, is undertaking an 18-month secondment to the Scottish Executive, working with the newly formed National Performing Companies Unit, with Katie Stuart fulfilling the Chief Executive role during this time. Dance Base also welcomes its new Bookings and Front of House Manager, Nicky Marshall, and Fundraising Manager, Lynn Wilson.

The Beatles Story in Liverpool has announced the appointment of Jamie Bowman (pictured) as its new Press Officer. He was previously Press and Marketing Manager at Liverpool-based, CMP Entertainment, and has also worked as a freelance music journalist.

Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp OBE has been appointed to the new role of Chief Executive of The Place. He previously worked as a dance performer and serves on the Boards of the Royal Opera House and Phoenix Dance Theatre.

Kati Clark, previously at the National Youth Dance Agency for Scotland, YDance, has joined Stevenson College Edinburgh Music Box as the new Creative Arts Manager.

Emily Davies (pictured) has joined Mrs Casey Music and FolkArts England as Arts Administrator, focusing on publicity, marketing and audience development. She previously worked at The Courtyard Centre for the Arts as Marketing Officer, Audience Development.

Patricia Stead (pictured) has been made Director, External Relations at Arts Council England, North East. She joins from Hammersmith and Fulham Council where she worked as Head of Arts and Archive.

Audiences Northern Ireland has appointed Steven Hadley as its new Chief Executive. Also joining as freelance Project Manager is Cathie McKimm, who has previously worked at Down Arts Centre and Opera Fringe.

The National Youth Choir of Scotland has announced that General Manager Ian Mills will be leaving in the autumn to pursue a freelance career in arts and education work. Joanna Lennox has been appointed to the new post of Public Relations and Marketing Officer.

Anthony Baker has joined essexdance as Director, moving from Gloucestershire Dance.

The Board of WHALE Arts has announced the appointment of its new Agency Manager, Alison Reeves. She has previously worked in the field of theatre and drama with young people and communities.

Henrietta Hine (pictured) is to take up the role of Head of Public Education at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She has previously worked as Curator of Education Programmes at the Whitechapel Gallery, as well as Co-ordinator of the East London en-quire Action Research Programme.

Kully Thiarai is the new Director of the Theatre Writing Partnership. Previously she was Joint Artistic Director of Leicester Haymarket, and has worked as a freelance theatre director and arts consultant.

Margaret Levin is returning to Cambridge as the new Marketing Director for Britten Sinfonia. Prior to this she worked in similar roles with Aldeburgh Productions, Cambridge Corn Exchange and Haverhill Arts Centre.