Jim Forrester, the Chair of our new fantastic venue, has today announced his plans to stand down from his position, having helped to bring our purpose-built £25 million venue to life over the recent years…
Jim aims to step down in October this year. He joined the Board of GMAC in 2012, and, together with our Trustees, has led the organisation through the successful development of our new building and the merger of our two originating companies, Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company.
In August 2014, when the completion of HOME was in sight, Jim focused the Board of Trustees’ attention on the skills it needed post-construction. He also announced to the Trustees that he saw his work in leading the Board during the construction phase as being completed once HOME was open, and that they should plan to recruit a new Chair to replace him in October 2015 at the end of his term of office. This would ensure a smooth handover and enable the Board to focus its attention on the next phase.
Jim leaves the Board in good health following five years of consistent artistic success and consecutive surpluses and growing reserves.
He said: “I’m delighted to have been HOME’s Chair through such an interesting and significant time. HOME has an exciting and bright future ahead of it in one of the country’s most culturally vibrant cities. There are many challenges ahead as the funding and business environment is complex and ever changing, but I am certain that HOME’s new Chair will be a powerful advocate and champion for the organisation’s vision and future ambition.”
Jim brought a wealth of experience of capital projects – including the development of Imperial War Museum North – which he has applied as Chair of the Trustees during the construction of HOME. He has been a great friend of the organisation, and his leadership and counsel have been crucial in the creation of the new building and organisation.
We all owe Jim a great debt of gratitude for his tireless work and commitment – and Jim, we wish you all the success for the future.
We will now be recruiting a new Chair of the Trustees who will, together with the Board and the executive leadership, forge a successful future for this pioneering cross arts organisation. With several long serving Trustees due to retire in September 2015, we will also seek to recruit a number of new Trustees from a broad range of backgrounds to help the organisation realise its ambitious vision.