Vanessa Reed announced as new RLPO Chief Exec

Fantastic news announced today that the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society has appointed Vanessa Reed as its new Chief Executive. She will take up the position on 2 June 2025

Vanessa will lead the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company, and an extensive learning and community programme.

She succeeds Michael Eakin as Chief Executive who retires at the end of March 2025 after 16 years in the role.

Reed is an award-winning music exec with more than 16+ experience as CEO of national music organizations in the UK and the US. Since 2019, she has been President and CEO of New Music USA, a New York based national resource which supports music creation and performance across the US. In this role, Vanessa has expanded the organization’s scope, addressed inequities in the field, and demonstrated New Music USA’s ability to change in response to the community’s needs, with a commitment to programming in collaboration with leading US artists.

Before the move to New York, Vanessa was CEO at PRS Foundation in London.

Vanessa speaks unequivocally about the appointment: “I am thrilled and honoured to be the first woman appointed to the role of Chief Executive at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. This unique organisation is very close to my heart and Liverpool is my favourite UK city.”