Michael Plaut appointed RWCMD chair

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) has appointed Michael Plaut OBE to the role of chair. Plaut takes over from John Derrick who steps down after fulfilling his full six-year term this summer. RWCMD has also announced two new board directors, Sarah Alexander OBE and Helen Sanderson who both take up their roles this month.

The three appointees will join the board for an initial term of three years. A former chair of CBI Wales, Plaut started his career as an investment banker in London before returning to Wales to run a business. He received an OBE for services to business and entrepreneurship in the 2020 New Year Honours list.

Plaut said: ‘The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama has a clear and compelling vision for its future, and a powerful ethos of empowering excellence. As a creative industries powerhouse, Wales - small but mighty - is an international magnet with immense natural resources of talent. I believe this is an organisation with the potential to truly make change, to transform lives and connect communities, and I am looking forward to leading it into its 75^th birthday year and beyond.’ 

An RWCMD Honorary Fellow herself, Sarah Alexander (pictured above) will this month become a board director. She brings to the role her experience as chief executive and artistic director of the National Youth Orchestra, as well as leading the education department at Welsh National Opera. She is joined by RWCMD head of guitar performance Helen Sanderson (pictured below), who has been elected as a board representative by her colleagues at the college.

Outgoing chair John Derrick said: ‘I am delighted after six years to be passing on the role of Chair to Michael Plaut, who is well placed to capitalise on the significant opportunity that the College has to expand and grow its world-class education and the arts from Wales… Sarah Alexander and Helen Sanderson will further reinforce the depth and experience of this first class and experienced board to work under Helena's leadership to be ambitious and reach new heights.’