Sally Cordwell, the former SS Great Britain Trust deputy CEO and director of marketing and visitor experience, has been appointed by Bristol Old Vic as its interim director.
Sally, pictured, will undertake the role, which she takes up on November 1, alongside her work as business director in the Bristol office of brands communications agency Future Kings, which she joined recently from the SS Great Britain. 
At the Old Vic she will support its senior management team as they move into the newly refurbished theatre building and absorb the challenges of a transformed business model, which include a new commercial business and a heritage offer.
Sally said: “Bristol Old Vic is a wonderful organisation that plays such an important role in the city and beyond. I’m absolutely thrilled to join the team at this exciting time and I’m looking forward to working with them to continue the incredible story. I can’t wait to start.”
Sally steps into the role as chief executive Emma Stenning leaves after almost 10 years in post during which she led the organisation through its multi-million pound redevelopment, which completed on time and on budget. Emma moves to Toronto next month to become executive director of Soulpepper Theatre Company.
Sally has more than 15 years’ experience in senior marketing roles in the heritage, visitor attraction, charity and public sector including the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, NHS and Arts Council England. She also holds additional roles in Bristol, including non-executive director for St Paul’s Carnival CIC.
Bristol Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris said: “As we say farewell to the brilliant Emma, we are delighted to have secured Sally in the interim executive director role. Her powerful combination of cool management, strategic communications and entrepreneurial skills equip her perfectly to support our brilliant senior management team as we explore the exciting potential of the new building.
“She also has an instinctive grasp of the enormous potential impact that proper cultural investment would have in Bristol, which is so vital for the city to understand and develop at this time.”
Future Kings, which also has an office in London and is opening in Manchester next January, provides brand strategy, communications and employee engagement to a range of clients, including Destination Bristol, UWE, Punter Southall Group, Chetwood Financial, Royal London Group and PrivateFly.
