Birmingham Royal Ballet appoints new chief executive

Paul James has been officially appointed to the top post - having been acting chief executive since last December, following the sad death of Caroline Miller who has been chief executive since 2018.

The appointment of Paul James, who prior to becoming acting CEO was the company's chief commercial officer, follows an extensive and internationally reaching recruitment process.

Carlos Acosta, director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, said: "I am looking forward very much to working closely with my colleague Paul James as I congratulate him on his appointment as our new CEO.

"I am deeply grateful to Paul for his steadfast commitment in stabilising the company following the untimely death of our much-missed CEO Caroline Miller in December 2024.

"Paul’s contribution over the past seven years has been instrumental in laying the strong foundations we have already achieved as a Company, and I welcome with enthusiasm the opportunity to build on these with Paul to achieve even greater things for the company in the future."

Paul, who lives in Herefordshire, said of his appointment: "It is an honour to be asked to stand alongside Carlos Acosta and lead this extraordinary company forward. These are not easy days for the arts and cultural sector, but I know just what the team here can do, and together we will continue to transform the business of ballet."

Before joining Birmingham Royal Ballet as chief commercial officer in October 2017, Paul - a brand and business change specialist - worked as senior vice president in global brand marketing for a Fortune 500 Company in New York and for a privately held hospitality brand in Singapore.

Since joining the ballet company, he has been a key member of the leadership team - transforming its sales and marketing function, rebranding with the arrival of Carlos Acosta as director and leading a digital transformation after the Covid pandemic.

Sir David Normington, chair of Birmingham Royal Ballet, said: ‘I am absolutely delighted with the appointment of Paul James as chief executive. I know he combines a passion for our mission to take great ballet everywhere, with the leadership and management skills to help us meet financial and other challenges that lie ahead. 

"He and Carlos Acosta will be a great team and I am looking forward to working with them both to bring exciting and ambitious programming to the widest possible audiences."