Ex-banker to head world-famous company.
The Board of Directors at Birmingham Royal Ballet has announced the appointment of Jan Teo as its new Chief Executive. Ms. Teo has served as a member of the Birmingham Royal Ballet Board for the past two years and has long experience in corporate management and the arts. She will take up the position in mid-September. Current Chief Executive Christopher Barron is leaving the Company in July, as announced in November.
Announcing Ms. Teo’s appointment, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Chair of the Board, Professor Michael Clarke said: “I am extremely pleased that we can make this appointment. The Board conducted a thorough international search, and while there was no shortage of qualified candidates it was nevertheless hugely gratifying to find the answer round our own Board table. Jan has just the mix of leadership skills and management experience we need, knows the Company well, and has great experience in the arts sector in Birmingham. We look forward to working successfully with her.”
In 2009 Ms. Teo joined Deutsche Bank as a Director, heading up the Change and Infrastructure Group in Birmingham. Having played a leading role in the exponential growth of the business, Jan became Chief Operating Officer for Deutsche Bank’s European Service Centres in early 2011. Jan draws on extensive commercial experience of planning and executing strategy, having been formerly a senior leader at Legal and General, Barclays Bank, RAC Motoring Services, Lex Transfleet and the Fraikin Group, working in Service and Business Transformation Director roles.
A strong and active supporter of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ms. Teo joined its board in 2013, and the Company’s Finance and General Purposes Committee in 2014. Ms. Teo is also a Director of the Birmingham Museums Trust, where she chairs the Finance and Operations Committee. She has played an important part in the annual Deutsche Bank Creative Awards and the Women in European Business diversity group. At the invitation of Sir Albert Bore, she led a workshop at the 2012 Cultural Summit, also sits on a steering group of Birmingham’s Creative Partnership Board looking at alternative funding models for arts and creative businesses.
Jan Teo added: “I am delighted to combine my corporate skills with a personal and lifelong passion for the arts and cultural pursuits, and am looking forward to working with the immensely talented and dedicated team at Birmingham Royal Ballet. Having been a member of the Board, I have had the privilege of getting to know the Chair and the Company well, and vice versa. It is a double honour to be following Chris Barron and all his achievements in the role of Chief Executive and to be working toward the future alongside David Bintley.”
