Shakespeare Birthplace Trust appoints new permanent CEO

RACHEAL NORTH has been appointed CEO of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

North has been interim CEO for the last six months, having previously been the organisation’s director of museum and public programmes.

The charity is responsible for three former Shakespeare homes: Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and Shakespeare’s New Place.

North, who has worked for the charity for five years, said it was a “genuine privilege” to take up the new, permanent role.

Chair of the board of trustees, LADY COBHAM, commented: “There were over 300 applications for this important position, and, like all shortlisted candidates, Rachael went through a rigorous process, overseen by Arts Council England.”

She said that North had a track record in “devising and implementing innovative visitor experience programmes, leading conservation and community engagement and spearheading capital development”.

Before moving to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 2020, North was operations director at the Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust in Northampton.

Prior to that, she was at Upton House, a National Trust property near Banbury, Warwickshire.

Cobham added: “I am excited to be working with Rachael at this pivotal moment in time for the Trust in its continued post-pandemic recovery.

“We share an ambition and a passion for its future aims to reach out to an ever-wider audience locally, nationally and globally.”