David McLoughlin to Leave Wexford Festival Opera

David McLoughlin

David McLoughlin to Leave Wexford Festival Opera

McLoughlin to return to film and television sector after 13 years in CEO role.

Wexford Festival Trust has announced that CEO David McLoughlin is to leave the organisation after thirteen years in the role.

McLoughlin, who is CEO for both Wexford Festival Opera and the National Opera House in Wexford, intends to return to producing roles in the film and television sector where he worked prior to commencing the Wexford role in 2007, as well as providing consultancy services to the broader cultural sector.

Commenting on his departure, McLoughlin said:

It has been a huge privilege and honour to serve as CEO of Wexford Festival Opera and the National Opera House over the past thirteen years – a period of many challenges but also much success and growth. … Wexford Festival and the National Opera House make an increasingly significant contribution to the national and international cultural landscape. Their importance and leadership can only grow over the coming months and years. I wish the organisation and all associated with it ongoing success in its continuing and future endeavours. Although I will be leaving Wexford, it will always have a special place in my heart.

During his tenure McLoughlin oversaw the completion of the redevelopment of the Wexford Opera House, the international expansion of Wexford Festival’s fundraising activities, the recognition by the state of the festival’s home as the National Opera House, and new broadcast and streaming initiatives in association with RTÉ, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the European arts and culture television channel ARTE. Most recently, with Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi, he managed the organisation’s response to the Covid pandemic. During his term, the organisation won Best Festival at the International Opera Awards and the National Opera House won Best Live Venue at the IMRO Awards. 

Mary Kelly, Chairwoman of Wexford Festival Trust, commented:

David has made a huge contribution to the continued success of Wexford Festival Opera and indeed to the arts sector in Ireland. He has shown huge resilience in the face of the many challenges faced by those working in the arts, not least over the past year in putting on a successful festival during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past thirteen years he has been the face of Wexford Festival greeting patrons personally each evening during the festival. We will miss him greatly and wish him every success in his new undertaking.

McLoughlin will leave his position in March.

Visit www.wexfordopera.com.

Published on 12 January 2021

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