The Royal Opera House, thrown into the media spotlight last week by
financial crisis and the proposal to house the English National Opera
under its roof, is about to appoint its first director of external
affairs. The director will report to chief executive Mary Allen.
The new role has been formed by splitting the marketing and
communications function, currently handled by director of corporate
affairs Keith Cooper.
As director of sales and broadcasting, Cooper will focus on audience
development, broadcasting and increasing access to performances in line
with chairman Lord Chadlington’s avowed aim to create a ’people’s
opera’.
The new external affairs director will co-ordinate relations with the
media, the Government and the community. The appointee will be
responsible for ensuring that the ROH has a voice in the working group,
headed by Sir Richard Eyre, which will decide on whether the ENO will be
rehoused at Covent Garden.
The new role will be subsidised by scaling down of lobbying undertaken
by GJW which has worked with the ROH on planning issues and the recent
select committee hearings.
Amanda Jones, head of press for The Royal Ballet and Helen Anderson,
head of press for The Royal Opera will report to the new director of
external affairs.
Analysis, page 7.
