Loretta Tomasi has today announced that she will step down as chief executive of English National Opera at the end of 2013. Tomasi has served for 10 years at the company – as executive director from May 2003 and as chief executive from November 2005. During her time at ENO she has worked closely with artistic director John Berry and music director Edward Gardner, and has increased international partnerships and exposure for the company’s work abroad.

‘It has been a privilege to lead this amazing and extraordinary company, full of talented, dedicated people who all work so hard to produce the finest work,’ said Tomasi. ‘I am proud of what we have achieved together and I am confident that ENO’s future holds many more artistic triumphs. This has been an immensely difficult decision to make but after 10 fantastic years – seven as chief executive – it is the right time for me to choose a new path.’

The company will ‘consider how best to ensure that ENO has the leadership it needs to build on Tomasi’s impressive work and take the company forward into an ambitious and sustainable future,’ according to chair of the ENO Board of Trustees, Martyn Rose. Further details of the succession will be announced in due course.