Andy Hogarth to replace John Crabtree as Birmingham Hippodrome chair

The Birmingham Hippodrome has announced that its chair John Crabtree has stepped down from his role after 16 years.

Andy Hogarth, a Hippodrome trustee since 2015, has taken over as the new chair.

Crabtree will continue in an informal ambassadorial role for the theatre, alongside his new position as lord lieutenant of the West Midlands.

Fiona Allan, artistic director and chief executive of Birmingham Hippodrome, said: “John financially stabilised the organisation.

“When John came in, the Hippodrome had just undergone a massive refurbishment and there was a lot of cost recovery to be done.

“Under John’s guidance we have seen turnover increase by 250%, and audiences increase to over half a million a year.”

She added: “The next challenge for me is how I can make the Hippodrome the great Midlands arts centre.

“I aim to have an additional half a million people every year who will have a free or low cost moment at the Hippodrome.”

Allan added that she aims to expand the venue’s programming in future years.

Hogarth has held senior roles in retail, healthcare, hospitality and construction, and is currently chief executive of staffing company Staffline Group.

He said: “When I first came to Birmingham Hippodrome there was a palpable sense of excitement.

“People have been coming to this great theatre for generations where such amazing performances have been staged. As someone from a non-artistic background, to be part of this is a real privilege.”