New leadership for Belgrade Theatre board

The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry has announced new leadership of its board, with Professor JONOTHAN NEELANDS taking up the role of Chair, accompanied by ANNETTE HAY as Vice-Chair.

Neelands is the Academic Director for Cultural Partnerships at the University of Warwick and Professor of Creative Education at Warwick Business School. His career has centred on theatre, creative education and cultural policy, and is currently focused on Coventry and the legacy of UK City of Culture 2021. 

Following a 30-year career in Higher Education, Hay was recently appointed the Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at De Montfort University in Leicester. She holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Management from Coventry University and is also an alumnus of Advance HE’s Diversifying Leadership Programme. 

Neelands said of his appointment, “I’m delighted to be taking up the Chair of the Belgrade at this very exciting time in the theatre’s long and distinguished history and leading an incredibly strong team of trustees who bring a true diversity of energy and experience. 

“We look forward to supporting the leadership team to deliver their creative vision.”

He succeeds the playwright ALAN POLLOCK, who has held the post of interim Chair since February. Neelands and Hay will lead the theatre’s sixteen-strong board of trustees, including seven members who have joined within the past year. 

The Chief Executive of the Belgrade Theatre, LAURA ELLIOT said: “I’m delighted with these appointments. Our new trustees, together with our existing board, represent another step change for the Belgrade’s evolution and will support us driving the organisation into an exciting future. 

“I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Alan Pollock for serving as interim Chair for these past eight months at an incredibly busy time for the organisation.”