Changes at the top and an opportunity to lead Bristol Beacon

Following the triumphant reopening of Bristol Beacon on November 30, which saw over 20,000 visitors during our opening weekend, we’re announcing some significant changes in our leadership.

Louise Mitchell CBE, our current chief executive who has led our organisation through the once-in-a-generation transformation, has confirmed that she will be stepping down from the role in July 2024, paving the way for a new leader to take us forward.

Also formally announced this week, long-term chair of the board Simon Chapman, who supported Louise and the team throughout the five-year transformation, has also come to the end of his tenure. The new chair taking up the role is the renowned broadcaster, writer and historian, Jonathan Dimbleby.

Louise has been at the helm since the music charity, Bristol Music Trust, was established by Bristol City Council in May 2011 to run the concert venue. She has led the Trust’s mission to put music at the heart of Bristol life and developed a diverse and inclusive music programme giving people across the city the opportunity to experience, watch and participate in live music. She also navigated the charity through the Covid pandemic and the ambitious building transformation, which saw the venue closed from 2018 until two weeks ago.

Louise says: “It’s been a highlight of my career leading and working with the team at Bristol Music Trust. We’ve been faced with some incredible hurdles and challenges along the way, but we have also grown an amazing organisation and created hugely impactful artistic, education and outreach programmes that are nationally recognised. We now start the next chapter of our building’s 155-year history with a glorious new building that ensures our position as one of the best and most accessible venues anywhere in Europe. My successor can come in and lead on the exciting next phase with the brilliant team here.

“I’m also incredibly thankful to the board and in particular our chair, Simon, for his unfailing support and calm, level-headed guidance over the past few years. He will be deeply missed, but we are thrilled that Jonathan Dimbleby has agreed to take on the role as new chair – his experience and ideas will be of enormous benefit as we focus on our future.”

Current chair, Simon Chapman, says: “We are so grateful to Louise for everything she has done over the past 12 years and will be extremely sad to see her go. She has been a truly inspirational leader who has built the organisation up from nothing, created a formidable and talented team around her, and established a fantastic reputation for the Trust’s work. The once-in-a-generation transformation has been more challenging than anyone could have anticipated at the beginning but has resulted in a world-class concert venue for the city, and Louise’s determination and vision have been crucial in ensuring its successful delivery.

“Sadly, my role as chair has come to an end too, but it’s been a journey that I will never forget and I’m proud to be part of such a forward-looking and brilliant organisation. I have no doubt that Jonathan will be a fantastic chair and will be able to bring fresh ideas and energy to the role. I wish him and the rest of the team all the best.”

Jonathan Dimbleby said: “As a citizen of Bristol, it is a great privilege to be asked to chair the Bristol Music Trust. I am fortunate to inherit the role at a point where – thanks in large measure to the outstanding leadership of Simon and Louise – the Beacon can now become a great cultural hub in the heart of this great city.

“At the start of this new era, I hope that everyone in Bristol will come to regard the Beacon as their musical ‘home’, a place that is open to all and at the service of all. With a wonderful new concert hall and a range of facilities that rival any in Britain – or indeed Europe – our task is to ensure that we offer a feast of musical delights for all ages, all cultures, and all tastes. I want the new Beacon to shine a light across the city and far beyond. I know that it can and that it will – which is why I am honoured to play my part in helping to meet this challenge.”

Joining Jonathan as Vice Chairs are strong local leaders Sandra Meadows MBE, independent business and EDI consultant, facilitator, coach and Director of The Centre for Mentoring & Coaching and Sonia Mills, who spent her career in the NHS which included several CEO-level posts with NHS Oxfordshire, Swindon Marlborough NHS Trust and latterly CEO for North Bristol NHS Trust responsible for the development of the new Southmead Hospital.