Essex's loss is Suffolk's gain as artistic director of Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, Douglas Rintoul, moves to New Wolsey Ipswich.
Rintoul will take over as chief executive from Sarah Holmes who, together with artistic director Peter Rowe, leaves her post.
Rintoul said of the move, "I've had the best time at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch. It is a special organisation that's deeply embedded in its communities, and I'm proud of what we've achieved. It's been an honour to work with our brilliant staff, trustees, partners and communities and to support our talented local artists. I've loved being able to make work that's not been seen only in Hornchurch but across the country and abroad and I can't wait to see what the organisation does next."