Karen O’Neill, formerly of the Lawrence Batley Theatre, will become director at the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster in August.
She will be taking on the new role at a pivotal moment for the venue, overseeing implementation and development of a new business model to ensure the venue survives and thrives.
During her time as executive director in Huddersfield, Karen has driven the organisation’s focus on sustainability and secured more than £600,000 in capital investment.
Before joining the Lawrence Batley, Karen was at the Palace Theatre and Opera House in Manchester as part of the senior leadership team delivering large-scale productions.
She is also a Clore Leadership Fellow and an International Fellow of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, one of only four UK fellows since 2008.
John Chell, Chair of The Dukes board, said, “we’re delighted to be welcoming Karen into The Dukes team and look forward to her bringing a fresh perspective to the organisation.”