Seán Doran, the Derry-born chief executive and artistic director of English National Opera, has resigned with immediate effect.
His appointment early in 2003 was made at a time of extreme artistic and financial crisis in the company. The challenges he faced included completing the £41 million restoration of ENO's London home theatre, the Coliseum, and managing industrial-relations problems associated with the cost-saving restructuring of ENO's chorus and orchestra.
The current season, the first to bear his personal artistic stamp, stirred up controversy through the sexual content of Gerald Barry's all-female The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, and won over audiences with a sell-out production of Puccini's Madam Butterfly, directed by Anthony Minghella.
However, as a manager, Doran did not succeed in containing strife within the troubled company. And, as one observer put it, management turnover in opera companies is now beginning to follow the pattern of football clubs.
Doran's responsibilities will be devolved to two current staff members.
Executive director Loretta Tomasi becomes chief executive and John Berry, director of opera programming, becomes artistic director. Doran will act as artistic consultant for the remainder of the current season.
"Seán has made an important contribution to ENO," said chairman Martin Smith. "He brought fresh thinking and a new artistic energy."
Tomasi said, "Seán's inspiration and vision have helped the company to achieve a great deal in a short space of time."
Doran said, "I have greatly enjoyed my time at ENO and leave it in a much stronger position than when I joined."
