Lyric Hammersmith announces new executive director

Sian Alexander has been appointed the new executive director of the Lyric Hammersmith.

Alexander, who will take up the role from 5 October 2015, succeeds Jessica Hepburn who is leaving the Lyric to focus on her writing career.

As her last act in the role Hepburn is swimming the English Channel to raise money for the theatre's work with disadvantaged children.

Sian Alexander has been a senior management consultant in the arts for the past five years, working with the Nuffield Southampton, Tricycle Theatre and Bush Theatre among others.

She said of her appointment: "The Lyric is my local theatre and I've been a huge fan of its work for years. It is an honour now to lead the theatre alongside Sean Holmes and to work together to realise the fantastic potential of the Lyric's new spaces for artists, audiences and young people."