It has been agreed that Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea will continue as chair of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Board of Directors, although recruitment continues to find his successor.
This change to his previously announced departure in August this year has come about because of the coronavirus pandemic which has left the Society facing a number of financial strategic challenges, not least the cancellation of this year's Festival.
The recruitment process for a new Chair will resume after this period, with the same emphasis on encouraging applications from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Shona McCarthy, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society chief executive, said, “we truly are living in extraordinary times and such times call for the most sensible measures. The decision to extend Sir Tim’s tenure as Chair will provide the Society with some much-needed stability as we try to navigate the coming weeks and months.
“With the festival and the Society on a financial knife edge, we are urgently seeking support from Scottish Government, the Council and a wide range of supporters and partners. Tim’s vast experience, knowledge and dedication will be invaluable in helping us navigate these challenges, and I’m delighted he’ll be here to help us weather the storm. When this difficult period has passed, and with Tim’s support, we will reopen recruitment once again, with the same principles of diversity and openness in place.”