Mark Pemberton OBE to step down as chief executive of ABO
Florence Lockheart
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Pemberton will be stepping down from his role in September 2022.
The Association of British Orchestras (ABO) has announced that chief executive Mark Pemberton OBE will be stepping down from the role at the end of September 2022.
Pemberton has led the ABO since 2007, working to advocate for the UK’s professional orchestras and classical music industry during turbulent times across the last 15 years including the Covid pandemic.
Pemberton said: ‘It is with much regret that I have decided to step down from my role as Chief Executive of the ABO at the end of September. I will have been in post for 15 years at the end of July, and these last two years, dominated by Covid and Brexit, have taken their toll in terms of increased workload in helping the sector survive.’
He added: ‘It is therefore time to pass the baton to someone with the energy and drive that I was able to bring to the role 15 years ago, who will work with the board on a refreshed vision for the association, and who will tackle the challenges ahead. I will be working with the board on a strategy for recruiting my successor, and wish them well in finding someone to take the ABO to even greater heights.’
The ABO is the national body representing the collective interests of professional orchestras, youth ensembles and the wider classical music industry throughout the UK. Throughout his time with the association Pemberton has grown its membership and developed its annual conference into Europe’s largest orchestral gathering.
Pemberton received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours in January 2022 and the ABO Special Award in the following month. His achievements in the role of chief executive include the repeal of the Entertainer Regulations in 2014 which prevented automatic Class 1 National Insurance deductions for entertainers and persuading the Treasury to implement Orchestra Tax Relief, to offset the preparation costs for concerts.
ABO chair, Simon Webb said: ‘The UK’s orchestras have adapted, evolved and thrived in the last fifteen years, always benefitting from Mark’s commitment and energy and his deep understanding of our work. I am personally saddened by his departure and will now work with the ABO board to identify a worthy successor to Mark, to continue his work on behalf of the UK’s orchestral sector.’
You can find out more about the Association of British Orchestras here.
