ENO appoints interim chief executive

London-based opera company, the English National Opera (ENO) has announced that Jenny Mollica has been appointed to the role of interim chief executive. Effective from September, Mollica will succeed Stuart Murphy, who has held the role for over five years.

Mollica will work closely with the ENO board as well as with artistic director Annilese Miskimmon and music director Martyn Brabbins. During her tenure she will support the company at a challenging time while it navigates the fallout from Arts Council England’s 2023-26 funding decisions as the situation continues to unfold.

Miskimmon said: ‘I am excited to be working even more closely with Jenny. She has the backing of the entire Executive team and we are assured by her commitment to ensuring that the ENO will continue to produce world-class opera and learning work for audiences and participants around the country for years to come. Jenny has a deep understanding of the challenges facing artistic organisations today and I look forward to working with her as we secure ENO’s long-term future.’

Mollica joined the ENO in 2020 from the Barbican and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she had worked for over a decade. As director of strategy and engagement she leads organisational strategy, policy and partnerships, as well as helping to forge new partnerships with organisations across the UK and supporting the company’s new digital programmes.

In her current role Mollica was also responsible for the company’s outreach programme, ENO Engage, which has expanded to reach more than 164,000 people across the country and includes RPS award-winning health initiative ENO Breathe.

Mollica said: ‘The ENO’s future remains full of exciting possibilities and I am confident that as a company we will continue to evolve, adapt and thrive long into the future. The ENO has deep roots in creating daring, accessible and world class opera for everyone – pushing the boundaries of the art form, nurturing talent and widening access and engagement for audiences across the country. This remains core to our mission as we ready ourselves for a new chapter ahead.

The recruitment process for the permanent CEO role will commence in Autumn.