New Chair of Manchester Collective's Board of Trustees announced

The End of Time performed at Kings Place. Credit: César Vásquez Altamirano

We’re delighted to announce the new Chair of our Board of Trustees. David McKeith will be taking this key role, bringing with him invaluable experience. 

David previously spent 15 years as the Chair of Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra and has held significant leadership roles throughout a long and successful business career. 

He is stepping up in place of our outgoing Chair Helen Gilman, who began her journey with Manchester Collective in 2018 and has chaired the board since 2020. 

Good governance is a vital ally of artistic risk-taking. As a small but determined organisation, the wealth of knowledge our Board possesses can guide us to become more sustainable, more efficient and more successful. It will continue to evolve and involve new voices, with David overseeing further trustee recruitment later this year.

A few words from our Trustees and Directors…

David McKeith: “I am delighted to be appointed Chair of Manchester Collective at an exciting time in our development. Our vision to reshape the future of classical music by creating radical artistic work remains important. I look forward to working on it with our Board and the team led by Rakhi Singh and Linda Begbie.”

Helen Gilman: “It’s been a delight and a privilege to serve on the Board as Chair and to help support MC on its amazing journey from where it was back in 2018 to the vibrant and innovative organisation that it is today.”

“I’m very pleased to be handing over to David, who is going to be an excellent Chair and a great person to take MC forward into its next phase. With Linda Begbie at the helm and David as the new chair, I’m confident of the ongoing development and success of MC!”

Linda Begbie, Chief Executive: "David has been a brilliant trustee since he joined our Board last year, and I'm excited to see what he brings to the Chair role. His level of governance experience is palpable.

“This, along with an undimmed appetite for learning, makes him an inspirational colleague – I've no doubt that we'll make a great team."

"We've also so much to thank Helen [Gilman] for. She stood by us in the early days when we were a tiny start-up going through many organisational birthing pains! Quite simply, we wouldn't be where we are without her guidance and support. She will remain a cherished member of the MC community."

Find out more about the future of MC from our leadership team.