"Simon Thomsett has been appointed to succeed Roland Muldoon as the chief executive of the Hackney Empire.
Currently general manager, Thomsett will begin the role, when Muldoon and his wife Claire - who is head of programming at the venue - leave in December.
Muldoon took charge of the Empire in 1985, re-establishing it as a home for variety. He oversaw the site’s extensive £19 million refurbishment from the beginning of the fundraising in 1997 to the Matcham-designed theatre’s reopening in January 2004, and is widely credited with saving the venue, which was built in 1901.
Thomsett had been regarded as the favourite to take over from Muldoon, having served as general manager at the venue since the mid-nineties."
Friday 18 November 2005
