The Stage

Southbank Centre heads to leave in leadership change

Published Friday 28 September 2007 at 16:10 by Alistair Smith

Southbank Centre chairman Clive Hollick and chief executive Michael Lynch are to step down from their positions at the end of 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Both joined the organisation in 2002 and will now move on as part of a “phased change of leadership”, which will see Hollick’s replacement recruited shortly and Lynch’s once the new chairman is in place.

Hollick commented: “I have had the privilege of being chairman of Southbank Centre for six years, working with a terrific board of governors and a great executive, brilliantly led by Michael Lynch. Together we have achieved a transformation of Southbank Centre with the successful refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall, and a significant increase in commercial revenue to help to diversify our sources of funding and to finance an increase in our own produced work under the guidance of our strengthened artistic team.”

Lord Hollick is also senior director at Diageo plc, partner at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company and a director of Honeywell Inc. He founded the IPPR think tank in 1986 and became a member of the House of Lords in 1991. Lynch joined the Southbank Centre from Sydney Opera House, where he also served as chief executive.