Doran leaves ENO after two years at helm

Published Wednesday 30 November 2005 at 12:05 by Alistair Smith

Sean Doran has announced that he will be step down as chief executive and artistic director of English National Opera after two years in the post.

He will be replaced by Loretta Tomasi, previously executive director, as chief executive and John Berry, previously director of opera programming, as artistic director.

ENO chairman Martin Smith commented: “The fact that ENO is enjoying a renaissance, with a very successful season artistically and breaking box office records, owes much to the talent of Sean. We are grateful for all that he has achieved at ENO. My board and I are pleased that Loretta and John will continue to inspire and to develop this wonderful opera company.”

Doran will continue as artistic consultant to ENO for the remainder of the current season. He took up his post in March 2003. Before that, he was director of Perth International Arts Festival from 2000 and artistic director of the Belfast Festival from 1996 to 1998.

He said: “While I am sad to be leaving, I am proud of what I have achieved. I took on this role with a number of big challenges for change that would secure the future of the organisation and these have been met. I have greatly enjoyed my time at ENO and leave it in a much stronger position than when I joined.”