Chris Stafford Named New Chief Executive of Curve

Chris Stafford has been appointed the new Chief Executive of Curve Leicester following Fiona Allan's departure to lead Birmingham Hippodrome this autumn. Curve is delighted to have found its next Chief Executive from amongst its Senior Management team, where Stafford has been working as Executive Producer for the past two years.

Stafford brings a wealth of experience to the role of Chief Executive. His two years as Executive Producer for Curve have seen him substantially grow the company's artistic programme, as well as develop Curve's national and international touring portfolio. All this has been achieved at a time of great insecurity for the arts, and has seen the current team deliver the company's most successful programme both artistically and commercially.

Prior to his tenure at Curve, Stafford was Executive Director at dreamthinkspeak, where he steered the company through a process of major organisational change, overseeing the company's work both nationally and internationally. His earlier career includes roles at Shakespeare's Globe and Bristol Old Vic; and he has worked extensively internationally as a producer. Stafford is a 2009/10 Fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme.

On accepting the role of Chief Executive, Chris Stafford said, "I am delighted to be appointed Chief Executive at Curve, and am honored to be leading our terrific theatre into the next phase of development. Leicester is an exciting, diverse and vibrant city, and I look forward to ensuring as many people as possible who live, learn and work across our region can engage with us here at Curve.

"It is an incredibly exciting and pivotal time to be undertaking this role, with the recent appointments of Nikolai Foster as Artistic Director and Commercial Director Alister de Ternant, and ambitious plans throughout all areas of our business, the scene is set for a very promising future. Under Fiona's inspired leadership Curve has developed a reputation as a major cultural organisation in the UK. I very much look forward to working with the Board and our talented team to build our next chapter."

Chair of Leicester Theatre Trust, Philip Tasker, said "I am delighted that Chris Stafford takes up the role of Chief Executive at Curve. He not only knows the company and building intimately having been an outstanding Executive Producer for us, but also brings a wealth of broader experience. He is ideally placed to build on the work of Fiona Allan, our outgoing Chief Executive, and to lead Curve to great success in the future. The Board and I look forward to working with him and our Artistic Director, Nikolai Foster, as Curve fulfils its promise as one of the most exciting theatres in the UK."

The role of Curve's Executive Producer will be advertised in due course.

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