January 13 - Ruth Mackenzie (pictured), former general director of Manchester International Festival, will lead the 2012 London Olympics culture team, it was announced today.


Mackenzie has been appointed director of culture by the Cultural Olympiad Board and London 2012.

In this role, she will lead the culture team, reporting to Tony Hall and the Cultural Olympiad Board.

The appointment is effective immediately.

She said that her first move will be to review arrangements as they stand and develop detailed plans for the board this spring.

Mackenzie said: "Our first task will be to do an audit of the existing plans and make recommendations to the board on the vision and timetable for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. We aim to announce our initial plans in a few months time."

Four high-profile names will support Mackenzie’s culture team as artistic advisors.

These are Martin Duncan, who worked with Mackenzie as joint artistic director of the Chichester Festival Theatre until 2005, managing director of English National Ballet Craig Hassall, who oversaw the brand portfolio for the Olympics in Sydney in 2000, former director of Edinburgh International Festival Brian McMaster, and Manchester International Festival director Alex Poots.

The Cultural Olympiad began in 2008 to involve people nationwide in London 2012.

Its board was set up last year, with Royal Opera House chief executive Tony Hall as chair.