ATG Announces New Appointments

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), the world's number one live-theatre company, has today announced the creation of two new appointments as part of the Group's planned international expansion and global business strategy.

ATG's Business Development Director, Karin Gartzke, will take on the new role of International Business Development Director and will focus solely on international initiatives, assisting with the development of ATG's international, venue based work.

Karin's UK based responsibilities will be taken on by Julia Potts in the new role of UK Business Development Director. Julia returns to ATG after 3 years. Since 2011 she has been Executive Director of the Almeida Theatre.

Both Gartzke and Potts will be based at ATG's Charing Cross Road offices and will begin their new roles on 1 July 2014.

Gartzke said, "I am delighted that my wide-ranging and rewarding role with ATG will now focus on developing the Group's international profile, particularly in the knowledge that I will be handing over my UK responsibilities to my very able, former colleague Julia Potts. I very much look forward to contributing to ATG's international expansion and driving its global business strategy."

Potts said, "I am thrilled to be taking up this new appointment with ATG. It is an exciting time for the company and I am looking forward to contributing to the further development of the business. In particular, I am delighted to re-establish my links with ATG's many excellent venues across the UK."

Rosemary Squire, ATG's Joint CEO said, "Over the forthcoming years it is our intention to expand ATG globally and as part of this drive we now have offices in Asia Pacific and North America and are currently exploring opportunities in continental Europe. To strengthen support in this area of our work we have created these two new roles to enable us to secure acquisitions in the future. We wish both Karin and Julia every success in their new roles and we're also delighted to welcome Julia back to ATG after 3 years leading the Almeida Theatre."

German-born Gartzke has more than 30 years experience in the theatre industry. She joined ATG in 1996 as Head of New Projects and was responsible for regional acquisitions and some international projects. She was also Chief Executive of Richmond Theatre from 1999 to 2011 and from 2004 to 2008 she additionally oversaw the New Wimbledon Theatre as its Chief Executive. As well as serving on the UK Theatre Board, Gartzke is a Director of the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, the Richmond Theatre Trust and the ATG Foundation. Prior to this, she was the Deputy Director of Performing Arts, South Bank Centre, Drama Officer/Deputy Drama Director, Arts Council England and administrator of a number of small and middle scale touring companies.

In her role as Executive Director of the Almeida Theatre, Potts was responsible for overall organisational leadership of the theatre including executive producing all Almeida productions, business & financial planning, property and commercial strategy development and funding. Most recently she was appointed Acting CEO for the transition period between Michael Attenborough's and Rupert Goold's Artistic Directorships. Prior to this, she spent nearly a decade as Head of Creative Learning for ATG, implementing the Group's national Creative Learning policy and strategy. During this time, Potts was also Acting General Manager of ATG's Churchill Theatre in Bromley. In 2006 she was the first person from the commercial theatre sector to be awarded a Fellowship on the Clore Leadership Programme, and subsequently was closely involved in the establishment of the ATG Foundation.

These latest appointments follow a number of other significant moves designed to allow ATG to expand its successful business model internationally - combining theatre ownership/management with producing activity and ticketing/marketing operations.

Earlier this year, David Lazar was promoted to the newly created role of Executive Director (based in London) in addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer New York. Lazar also joined the company's global Executive Board. In 2013, ATG expanded its international operations in Australia and Asia with the appointment of Tim McFarlane based in Sydney, and through a US based subsidiary, also acquired The Lyric, Broadway's largest theatre.