New Chief Executive Officer announced

Thorben Dittes in suit in front of a brightly coloured wall.

The Philharmonia Orchestra is delighted to announce the appointment of Thorben Dittes as its new Chief Executive.

He will take up the role on 1 August 2022 and will lead the Philharmonia at the head of a strengthened senior management team.

Dittes joins the Philharmonia from Sage Gateshead where he has been the Director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia & Classical Music Programme since 2014. Prior to that he served as the Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble in Glasgow for four years having left his role as Artistic Planning Manager at Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra in London to move to Scotland.

Thorben Dittes said: “The Philharmonia is one of the world’s great orchestras. It also was the first orchestra I experienced in London as a student over twenty years ago, when I fell in love with its distinctive sound.

It is an honour and a privilege to join the organisation at this artistically exciting moment and to work with Santtu, Lord King, the board, the players and the administrative team to shape a future which connects the orchestra’s tremendous legacy with a truly 21st-century vision of what a symphony orchestra can be.”

Lord King of Lothbury, Chair of the Philharmonia, said: “I am delighted that, after an intensive international search, the Philharmonia has been able to attract Thorben Dittes to take the Orchestra forward. We all look forward to working with him.”

Kira Doherty, President of the Philharmonia said: “I am hugely pleased that Thorben is joining us at the Philharmonia and will be leading the Orchestra into the 22/23 season and beyond.  We are all thrilled to be working with him, and look forward to the dynamism and leadership he will bring to the role.”

Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia, said: “I’m excited to see what plans Thorben has for the Philharmonia over the coming years. I’m looking forward to him joining me on my journey with this fantastic group of musicians and exploring what we can create together.”

For comment, interview and image requests, please contact:

Rebekah Holloway, Marketing Director
rebekah.holloway@philharmonia.co.uk