Philharmonia appoints Alexander Van Ingen as new Chief Executive

The Philharmonia Orchestra is delighted to announce the appointment of Alexander Van Ingen as its new Chief Executive.

He will take up the role in September 2020, taking over from Interim Managing Director Michael Fuller, and will lead the Philharmonia at the head of a strengthened senior management team that will include a new post of Director of Artistic Planning.

Alexander joins the Philharmonia from the Cambridge-based baroque orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music, where he has been Chief Executive since 2017. Prior to that he was an Executive Producer and A&R lead at Decca Classics for five years, working with artists including Daniel Barenboim, Nicola Benedetti, Janine Jansen and Leonidas Kavakos.

Alexander Van Ingen said: “I am delighted to join the Philharmonia, an orchestra with an enviable reputation, which I have long admired. Some of my earliest orchestral recordings as an engineer and producer were with the Philharmonia, and the orchestra’s on-going pioneering work in the digital field takes Walter Legge’s founding vision in 1945 to new heights. The Philharmonia’s glorious sound and national footprint bring incredible music to communities across the country, both in concert and through an extensive learning and engagement programme. I am very proud to be a part of the Philharmonia’s superb work, and look forward immensely to joining an outstanding artistic journey later this year.”

Michael Fuller, Interim Managing Director and double bass player, said: “The Philharmonia is thrilled to welcome Alexander Van Ingen as our new Chief Executive. His keen intelligence and business acumen, along with his background and experience, ideally position him to lead the Orchestra into our next exciting phase with Principal Conductor Designate Santtu-Matias Rouvali. Alexander’s energy will be pivotal in taking the Philharmonia to the next level, building on our artistic excellence both on the platform and in our sector-leading digital and learning work.”

Saul Nathan, Chair of the Philharmonia Trust, and Victoria Irish, Chair of Philharmonia Limited and 1^st violin, co-chaired the selection panel on behalf of the Orchestra, presiding over an exhaustive international recruitment process that resulted in a unanimous decision to appoint Alexander Van Ingen.

Victoria Irish said: “We are delighted to welcome Alexander as our new Chief Executive. The Philharmonia has a strong international and domestic reputation and we continue to forge ahead as market leaders in digital experiences. This is an inspiring time for the Orchestra and Alexander to lead the next chapter in our 75-year story.”

Saul Nathan said: “The appointment of Alexander to this role is a critical step among several the Philharmonia is taking to ensure its place at the pinnacle of classical music. Alexander brings unique knowledge and experience across all genres of performance – recorded, live and digital – all of which are essential for a 21^st century orchestra. We are delighted that he is joining the Philharmonia at such an exciting time.”

Joyce Wilson, London Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “We welcome Alexander in his new role at the Philharmonia. As an orchestra that works regionally, nationally and internationally, we look forward to it continuing to deliver excellent work and engaging with new audiences through its digital and outreach programme.”