Rosemary Squire and Chris Pomfret have been appointed as the new co-chairs of Hall for Cornwall's board of trustees.

They succeed Sue Wolstenholme who stood down at the end of August after 13 years on the board, most recently as chair. Sue’s energy, expertise and commitment provided invaluable support for director, Julien Boast, and his senior team, and she was instrumental in helping to drive forward the vision for the ten-year business plan, which is now the bedrock of the organisation and the proposed capital plans for the future of its Grade II listed building.

Rosemary is co-founder and deputy chairman of the Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG) and one of the most prominent women in British theatre. Under her leadership, ATG became the world’s largest live-theatre company with 46 venues in Britain, the US and Australia and one of the world’s most prolific theatre producers. She is a national member of the Arts Council England board, chairman of the board for Sonia Friedman Productions, and served as chair of Great Ormond Street’s Theatres for Theatres Appeal, raising over £5m.

Commenting on her new appointment, she said: “I am absolutely delighted to co-chair this board with Chris, it is an honour to be a custodian of Cornwall’s largest theatre, especially at this time with the bold and transformational capital project. I look forward to working with Julien and his fantastic team and supporting them with my many decades of experience in the theatre.”

Chris has been chair of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) since its inception in 2011. In this role, he has secured substantial public funds to drive economic growth within Cornwall, and has overseen strategy development for UK and EU economic development funds for 2015-2020. Following an illustrious career in global and regional roles at Unilever, specialising in marketing, brand strategy and innovation, Chris has held numerous non-executive positions, and also operates an independent consultancy focused on marketing, brands and consumer understanding.

He said: “Hall for Cornwall is an important part of Cornish culture and the proposed capital development plans will give Cornwall a venue that will be one of the best and one that will match the cultural heritage of Cornwall which is second to none. It is an honour to play a role in the development of this theatre.”

Director, Julien Boast said: “I am thrilled with Rosemary and Chris being appointed co-chairs, a dynamic and influential partnership that will provide invaluable experience and support to my executive team and I, as we move towards the next stages of our ambitious capital project. "Rosemary’s international experience of commercial theatre and her high-standing reputation within the sector, combined with Chris’s involvement with local and national government and a global executive career at Unilever, where he was responsible for steering the success of some of the world’s biggest brands, will be a powerful combination in leading Hall For Cornwall to be a leading venue within the South West, serving the whole of Cornwall with a rich programme of performing arts."