New Appointments at the RSC
Vicky Cheetham and Sandeep Mahal_ interim co-Executive Directors. Photo by Simon Hadley (c) RSC.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) have announced the appointment by the Board of Trustees of Vicky Cheetham and Sandeep Mahal as Interim Co-Executive Directors. The news follows the announcement that Catherine Mallyon will step down as Executive Director on 22 December after eleven years in post. Sandeep and Vicky are currently members of the Senior Leadership Team and will take up the post from 23 December, whilst the recruitment process for the permanent Executive Director continues.
Co-Artistic Directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said, “We’re delighted to be working with Vicky and Sandeep as we look ahead to the RSC's next chapter. Both have vast leadership experience as well as a proven track record of innovation. Their existing knowledge of the RSC and practical experience of navigating cultural change makes them ideal collaborators for this moment in the Company’s evolution. It’s a brilliant appointment by the Board and we're thrilled to be working in partnership with them."
Vicky Cheetham joined the RSC in January 2023 as Executive Advisor. Vicky’s previous roles include Managing Director of Tate, with responsibility for business management, innovation, enterprise and governance. Prior to this, Vicky was Executive Director, Arts, at London’s Southbank Centre where she oversaw the strategy and delivery of the artistic programme across multiple art forms and sites, having previously been Director of Producing and Presentation. Vicky has also held a range of roles at the Barbican including as Executive Producer of their international multi-genre music programme.
Lisa Hughes_ RSC Chief Financial Officer. Photo (c) the artist.
Sandeep Mahal joined the RSC’s Senior Leadership Team as Leadership Associate (Executive) in January 2022. She combined this work with her role as Director of Sector Change at People Make it Work, leading on the development of the Office for Leadership Transition. The posts of RSC Leadership Associate were created to help guide the RSC’s strategic review with a focus on diversifying the voices leading and governing the organisation.
In addition, the RSC announced today the appointments of Lisa Hughes as Chief Financial Officer, alongside Stephanie Dittmer as Director of Development. Lisa Hughes joins the RSC from her role as Chief Operating Officer at River Learning Trust. Lisa has worked at Executive and Non- Executive levels in the not-for-profit sector for 18 years.
Stephanie Dittmer_ RSC Director of Development. Photo (c) the artist.
Stephanie Dittmer joins the Company from Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures where she serves as Associate Executive Director. Previous to this, Stephanie was Co-Director of the Institute of Imagination and served for almost a decade in the leadership team at the Donmar Warehouse.
Commenting on these appointments, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey added, “This is a time for renewal at the RSC. As we begin this new chapter, we welcome Stephanie and Lisa’s combined experience, spanning diverse sectors and multiple artforms. They will be invaluable as we look ahead to the future under new artistic and senior leadership.”
