David T. Ormesher Appointed President-Elect of Lyric Opera of Chicago

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced that David T. Ormesher, a current member of Lyric's Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and chairman of the Innovation Committee, was unanimously elected at today's Board of Directors meeting as Lyric's president-elect.

"All of us at Lyric Opera are fortunate to have found in David Ormesher a president with the proven expertise, experience, and strategic vision to lead Lyric's Board," said Freud. "We know that David's love of our art form, his distinction in business, his commitment to relationship building, and his extensive and creative leadership capabilities will immeasurably strengthen Lyric in the fulfillment of our mission."

Known for his entrepreneurial leadership, his skills at relationship-marketing, his ability to foster exceptional corporate cultures, and his dedication to social service, Ormesher has been a member of Lyric's board since 2012. He is the founder and CEO of closerlook, inc., a digital marketing agency that specializes in the pharmaceutical industry.

"I've been privileged to have been involved with Lyric for many years," said Ormesher. "I can tell you that the breadth and depth of experience of the staff and the board is remarkable. It is truly a world-class organization.

"Lyric has a long legacy as an artistically excellent and fiscally sound Chicago cultural institution, but like every organization, we need to be prepared to reinvent ourselves to stay relevant," stated Ormesher. "I am very passionate about our vision of becoming the great North American opera company for the 21st century, and I look forward to helping to lead Lyric as we embrace the amazing opportunities and address the significant challenges inherent in implementing our strategy.

"Anthony Freud came to Chicago with a clear and compelling vision for Lyric's artistic excellence and cultural relevance. Our role as a board is to support Anthony, Sir Andrew Davis, and the entire Lyric team to bring that vision to reality. As president-elect, I look forward to partnering with Anthony. I have a great passion for opera and its potential for impacting culture, and will bring that love for Lyric and my financial and business experience as an entrepreneur to Anthony's artistic leadership and deep knowledge of the art form to help build a creative tour-de-force."

Ormesher succeeds interim president and CEO Richard P. Kiphart. Kiphart, himself a former Lyric president and CEO from 2007 to 2011, accepted the role on a temporary basis upon the sudden death of Kenneth G. Pigott, in February of this year.

Ormesher, 56, a graduate of Wheaton College and resident of Chicago, will begin his role immediately and remain in the post as president-elect through the end of Lyric's fiscal year on June 30, the time of the company's Annual Meeting, when Ormesher's title will become president and CEO.

Ormesher founded closerlook, inc., in 1987 and has taken it from a small, creative media boutique agency and grown it into a recognized leader in developing innovative marketing solutions that help pharmaceutical brands build and maintain relationships with the most valuable healthcare professionals.

David is a frequent speaker at professional conferences and is a recognized thought leader in the areas of interactive and relationship marketing. He has been consistently recognized as one of the 100 Most Inspiring Leaders in the life sciences industry and awarded for his legacy of leadership, innovation and philanthropy.

In addition to his entrepreneurial leadership, David is active on several non-profit boards beyond Lyric Opera. He serves on the board of the Poetry Foundation; the Lurie Children's Hospital Foundation; i.c. stars, an innovative business and leadership training program for inner city youth; and is the founder of Bigger Future, a social-enterprise dedicated to building the capacity of high-potential entrepreneurs in Rwanda.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg