Birmingham Royal Ballet announces Paul James as new Chief Executive

Paul has been Acting Chief Executive since last December, and before that was the Company's Chief Commercial Officer. His appointment follows an extensive, and internationally reaching, recruitment process.

The Chair of Birmingham Royal Ballet Sir David Normington said: ‘I am absolutely delighted with the appointment of Paul James as Chief Executive. I know he combines a passion for our mission to take great ballet everywhere, with the leadership and management skills to help us meet financial and other challenges that lie ahead. He and Carlos Acosta will be a great team and I am looking forward to working with them both to bring exciting and ambitious programming to the widest possible audiences.’

Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet Carlos Acosta said: ‘I am looking forward very much to working closely with my colleague Paul James as I congratulate him on his appointment as our new CEO. I am deeply grateful to Paul for his steadfast commitment in stabilising the Company following the untimely death of our much-missed CEO Caroline Miller in December 2024. Paul’s contribution over the past 7 years has been instrumental in laying the strong foundations we have already achieved as a Company, and I welcome with enthusiasm the opportunity to build on these with Paul to achieve even greater things for the Company i the future.’

Paul James said: ‘It is an honour to be asked to stand alongside Carlos Acosta and lead this extraordinary Company forward. These are not easy days for the arts and cultural sector, but I know just what the team here can do, and together we will continue to transform the business of ballet.’

Paul James is a Brand and Business Change specialist, with a global background in customer-led, service businesses. After graduating from Bournemouth University, Paul has received executive leadership qualifications in Marketing, Leadership and Change Management from INSEAD, University of Surrey and Cranfield University. He is a qualified Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Before joining Birmingham Royal Ballet as Chief Commercial Officer in October 2017, Paul worked as Senior Vice President Global Brand Marketing for a Fortune 500 Company based in New York and for a privately held hospitality brand in Singapore.

As Chief Commercial Officer (and latterly Acting CEO) Paul has been a key member of Birmingham Royal Ballet's leadership team transforming its sales and marketing function, rebranding with the arrival of Carlos Acosta as Director, and leading a digital transformation following the Covid pandemic.

A passionate supporter of the arts, Paul is a trustee of Dancefest in Worcester and an advocate for dance's unique ability to provide transformative experiences for both audiences and participants alike. He lives in Herefordshire with his family.