Birmingham Royal Ballet selects new chief executive

PAUL JAMES has been named chief executive of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

James has been acting chief executive since December last year, when CEO CAROLINE MILLER stepped down due to terminal ill health.

Before joining Birmingham Royal Ballet as chief commercial officer in 2017, James was senior vice president of global brand marketing for a New York Fortune 500 Company and for a privately held hospitality brand in Singapore. He is also a trustee of Dancefest in Worcester.

Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet CARLOS ACOSTA said: “I am deeply grateful to Paul for his steadfast commitment in stabilising the company following the untimely death of our much-missed CEO Caroline Miller in December 2024.

“Paul’s contribution over the past seven years has been instrumental in laying the strong foundations we have already achieved as a company, and I welcome with enthusiasm the opportunity to build on these with Paul to achieve even greater things for the company in the future.”

James said: “It is an honour to be asked to stand alongside Carlos Acosta and lead this extraordinary company forward.

“These are not easy days for the arts and cultural sector, but I know just what the team here can do, and together we will continue to transform the business of ballet.”