OA’s chief will leave to take up appointment at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2017.

Opera Australia has announced the resignation of its CEO Craig Hassall AM, who has been appointed as Chief Executive at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Hassall will take up his new position in the first half of 2017, giving OA six months to find his replacement. He will succeed Christ Cotton, who retires in March.

Craig Hassall. Photo courtesy of Opera Australia

Australian-born Hassall, who has been CEO at Opera Australia for three years, is no stranger to London. He was Managing Director of English National Ballet for seven years from 2005. During this time, he was also an Artistic Advisor to the hugely successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He then spent a year working as CEO for Raymond Gubbay Limited where he was responsible for tours throughout Europe and Australia of popular classical concerts, operas and ballets.

Hassall began his career at Opera Australia and, after a short break, returned there as Marketing Manager. His other previous positions include Deputy General Manager at Sydney Theatre Company and General Manager at Bell Shakespeare. He also managed...