Anna Patalong appointed Chief Executive

We’ve got some sad news – our Chief Executive, Nicola Candlish, will be leaving us this month after four years at BYO to take over as Senior Manager of Performing Arts at Durham University.

Anyone who came to one of our shows at Opera Holland Park last year will probably know that she has a young baby, but you might not know that she recently moved back home to Gateshead to be closer to her family. Hopefully you’ll join us in wishing her all the best for her new(ish) life in the Northeast.

So last month we cast the net far and wide in search of her replacement. We met lots of interesting and talented people, but it turns out that the best person for the job was in our midst all along! It gives us great pleasure to announce that our very own Anna Patalong will be taking over from the end of the month.

Some of you will know Anna from her work looking after BYO’s friends and supporters over the last few years. Others might recognise her performances as an international soprano on the stages of opera houses around the world. A few of you might even remember when she herself took part in BYO, as a fresh-faced young singer, back in 2007, 2008 and 2010!

Congratulations to Anna - she’s got lots of great ideas for BYO, so keep your eyes peeled for those over the next few months. And to Nicola – good luck in the Northeast!

Looking for more? Download the press release here.