Less than four years after he took up the position of Opera Australia CEO in August 2017, Rory Jeffes has announced that he will be leaving the role.

In a short statement announcing his departure, OA Chairman David Mortimer said that Jeffes “will continue as CEO until such time an orderly change in leadership can take place, expected to be later this year.”

Mortimer said the OA Board “are sorry to be losing Rory and, in due course, will be saying more about his contribution to the company.”

Rory Jeffes at Opera Australia in 2019. Photograph © Keith Saunders

In an email Jeffes sent this morning to OA staff, he said: “This is very much a personal decision of mine for a number of reasons, both family related and due to reflections over the past year’s disruptions that have influenced my future priorities.”

Jeffes joined OA in 2017 after 10 years working as Managing Director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Born in Britain, he joined the SSO in 2005 as Director of External Relations, becoming MD in 2008.

His professional background is rooted in business and the not-for-profit sector. He was CEO of the CREATE Foundation,...