Finnish National Opera and Ballet seeks new General Director

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The Finnish National Opera and Ballet in Helsinki is looking for a new General Director. The current General Director, Päivi Kärkkäinen, will retire in spring 2018, and her replacement will be expected to take up the post at the beginning of 2018. The recruitment process will begin in January 2017.

Applicants are expected to be have management experience, vision and an appreciation of culture. The principal duties of the General Director will include implementing strategy, achieving a solid funding base, securing the operational potential of the FNOB and identifying future opportunities. The General Director of the FNOB is also a major opinion leader in the field of Finnish culture. The General Director is responsible for overall management of the entire organisation; the Artistic Directors of the Opera and the Ballet report to him or her.

“The FNOB is in excellent shape artistically, financially and administratively. Päivi Kärkkäinen has done a great job in reforming and leading the company, and her contribution to the wonderful state the FNOB is in today is exceptionally remarkable,” says Leena Niemistö, chairman of the Board of Directors. Päivi Kärkkäinen took up her post nine years ago, in December 2007.

“I have hugely enjoyed my job in this creative and wonderful environment, and I am still excited about it. I have been able to witness what an important force culture is in society. But one year from now I will be happy to pursue other interests,” says Päivi Kärkkäinen.

The FNOB is a performing arts institution of artistically high quality, a medium-sized opera company by European standards. The FNOB reaches not only Finnish audiences but international audiences too through regular joint productions with distinguished opera houses abroad and digitally streamed performances available free of charge online. In spring 2017, the FNOB will give guest performances in Copenhagen, Tokyo and Osaka. The FNOB has about 530 salaried employees and 100 hourly-paid employees, besides which some 900 guest artists visit in any given season. In the autumn now ending, the main auditorium has again recorded a high capacity factor, 95%.

The FNOB is seeking not only a new General Director but also a new Artistic Director for the Ballet, as the fixed-term post of Kenneth Greve will come to an end in summer 2018.

Finnish National Opera and Ballet / Communications
Communications Manager Johanna Järventaus 358 9 4030 2322

Researcher Juhani Koivisto 358 9 4030 2215
Communications Specialist Petra Rönkä 358 9 4030 2274 (opera)
Communications Specialist Jussi Iltanen 358 9 4030 2223 (ballet)
Communications Specialist Emilia Vähätalo  358 40 832 1611 (digital communication)
Communications Coordinator Tuike Lehko 358 50 439 2710 

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