Alan will take up his new appointment in early 2008 – succeeding Peter Hewitt, who will have been in post as Chief Executive for ten years.
Alan, 46, is currently Director of Culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, a post he has held since 2003 having worked in the Department as head of the arts division since 2001.
In an earlier stint at the then Department of National Heritage he was responsible for designing the National Lottery.
He has also worked at the Department of Health, where he led the Modernising Division and held the post of Secretary to the Royal Commission on Long Term Care. He has been a visiting Fulbright/Helen Hamlyn Scholar at the University of Maryland.
Alan is well known for his passionate interest in, and advocacy of, the arts, as well as for his unrivalled knowledge of public policy in this area.
Sir Christopher Frayling added: “We are delighted that Alan will be joining us in this very significant role as Chief Executive of the Arts Council – significant for the arts in this country and for all who love them.
“Building on the real success of Peter Hewitt’s ten years as Chief Executive, Alan will bring inspirational leadership, strategic vision and ambassadorial flair – qualities he possesses in abundance based on his high-level experience with the arts. This really is a milestone for Arts Council England.”
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