The Lowry has appointed Rhiannon Mckay-Smith and Gwen Oakden as its new directors of development.
The pair, who have 26-years fundraising experience between them, fulfil the role on a job-share basis and will be responsible for the Salford arts venue’s annual, non-commercial income.
The duo replace Stephen Crocker, who is leaving in November to take up the position of chief executive of Norwich Theatre Royal.
Mckay-Smith began her fundraising career at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew before moving to the Young Vic theatre in Waterloo. She joined The Lowry as head of development in 2011 and has worked on the organisation’s £5m capital campaign.
Oakden started her career working first for Arts & Business and then Morris Hargreaves McIntyre. A past board member of FutureEverything, she has worked for Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth before arriving at The Lowry in 2015 to cover Mckay-Smith’s maternity leave.