The artistic director and chief executive of Birmingham's famous Hippodrome theatre is stepping down from the post after six years.
Fiona Allan is returning to her homeland in the autumn to become chief executive of Opera Australia.
Ms Allan joined the Hippodrome in 2015 from Leicester's Curve Theatre where she was also chief executive.
She has also performed a number of other roles since moving to Birmingham, including chairwoman of West Midlands Growth Company's Regional Board for Tourism, overseeing the delivery of its £1 billion tourism strategy which launched in 2019.
She also serves on both Midlands Arts and Midlands Engine business councils and has been president of national industry body UK Theatre since 2016.
The Hippodrome said that, during her tenure, it had doubled the number of people it reached through live performances, education programmes, festivals and visual arts to more than one million annually.
But like so many in the events sector, it has also had to withstand the impact of the coronavirus lockdowns and last year was forced to make more than 60 staff redundant.
Ms Allan said: "I have loved being in Birmingham and am especially sad to be leaving on the eve of our Commonwealth Games year.
"During the time I've spent here, I have enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life and have fallen in love with the city's youthful energy.
"There is such incredible talent in Birmingham and the arts and cultural scene is absolutely thriving.
"I am humbled to have played a part in helping support artists create new work here that is now touring the UK and the world.
"We have made enormous strides forward in the past five years, pausing only for the challenges of the past year while our theatre itself has been closed to live performance.
"Despite these challenges, we have still reached more than 850,000 people via art installations, the Van Gogh Alive experience, digital streaming events and our extensive work in schools and communities.
"I have no doubt that Birmingham Hippodrome will emerge from this period stronger, more energized and resilient than ever."
Chairman of Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Glenn Howells added: "We are sad to see Fiona leave but are reassured that she leaves behind a strong and talented team of staff that will continue to progress and evolve her amazing legacy."
