English National Opera has announced that their following Interim Chief Executive will be Jenny Mollica. She'll get up the post in Sept following the departure of the current Chief Executive, Stuart Murphy, who announced he'd be leaving in Oct latest year. Jenny will work closely alongside Annilese Miskimmon, ENO Artistic Director, Martyn Brabbins, ENO Music Director and the ENO Board. Currently Director of Strategy and Engagement, Jenny has been leading the company’s transition and business planning work in the context of Arts Council England’s 2023-26 funding outcome. It was announced earlier this mo that Arts Council England has set a budget of up to £24 million for English National Opera for two thousand twenty-four – two thousand twenty-six, based on them emotional their main base out of London, whilst continuing to own, manage and keep on work at the London Coliseum.
This is in addition to the one year reprieve a total funding slice that the Arts Council granted them in January. Mollica joined the ENO in two thousand-twentieth the Barbican and Guildhall School of Music & Drama and is responsible for leading organisational strategy, policy and partnerships, and also for the ENO’s learning and participation programme, ENO Engage. Over the past three years Jenny has worked closely with the ENO’s Board and Executive on the organisation’s strategic management, business planning and governance. Jenny has also led on the development of a range of new strategic partnerships in London and nationally.
With a focus on expanding the ENO’s social impact, she's overseen the growth of the company’s ENO Be engaged in programme, with more than 164.000 people across the country experiencing its programmes latest year, either online or in-person. Highlights comprise creative health programme ENO Breathe, which received the RPS Impact Award in two thousand twenty-first and is presently available in over eighty-five NHS Trusts across the country. Jenny has also led on the creation of a no of new digital programmes at ENO, including as Co-Executive Producer on a new TV and broadcast project for Sky Kids and Sky Arts designed to introduce family audiences to opera for the first time.
Prior to joining the ENO, Jenny worked at the Barbican and Guildhall School of Music & Drama for just over a decade in a range of roles, including Director of Creative Learning, she led on the development of a range of participatory arts programmes across music, theatre, dance, visual arts, film and literature. ENO has also said that they're planning a public recruitment process for the permanent CEO role, and that this will start in the Autumn. Jenny Mollica said in a statement: “I am delighted to be appointed as Interim Chief Executive of the ENO and see forward to working closely with Annilese, Martyn and the ENO Board as we navigate the various challenges that our organisation faces in the months ahead.
The ENO’s future remains full of exciting possibilities and I'm confident that as a company we'll continue to evolve, adapt and prosper long into the future. The ENO has deep roots in creating daring, accessible and world class opera for everyone – pushing the boundaries of the art form, nurturing talent and widening access and engagement for audiences across the country. This remains core to our mission as we prepared ourselves for a new chapter ahead. I'd also love to get this opportunity to thank Stuart for his truly inimi leadership over an unprecedented five years, steering the organisation through the pandemic and our current process with Arts Council England with kindness, excellent humour and always with the organisation’s best interests at heart. He's been a positive force for modify and innovation at ENO, and leaves with an inspiring heritage for us to construct upon.” Dr Harry Brunjes, Chair of the ENO and London Coliseum, said: “The Board were unanimous in their decision to appoint Jenny Mollica as Interim Chief Executive of the ENO.
At this time of modify for the ENO it's necessary that there is a sense of continuity for the whole organisation and we've been extremely impressed by her commitment and dedication to ensuring a shining and positive future for the ENO following Arts Council England’s 2023-26 funding decision. The Board and I see forward to working even more closely with her following her handover with Stuart in the upcoming months, and perceive confident about the future for the organisation below her, Annilese and Martyn’s leadership.” Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director, ENO, said: “I am excited to be working even more closely with Jenny.
She's the backing of the all Executive team and we're assured by her commitment to ensuring that the ENO will continue to produce world-class opera and learning work for audiences and participants around the country for years to come. Jenny has a deep understanding of the challenges facing artistic organisations today and I see forward to working with her as we secure ENO’s long-term future.” Martyn Brabbins, Music Director, ENO said: “We are all enormously reassured that as we enter a period of change, Jenny will allow continuity for the whole organisation whilst remaining true to ENO’s ethos that high-quality music should be available to everyone. I'm looking forward to working with her even more closely.”