Fresh turmoil as key capital of culture director quits

Oct 13 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

crisis in culture

ONE of the key organisers in the Liverpool Culture Company has quit his job, less than three months before the year-long festival begins.

Operations director Chris Green is leaving at the end of the month to become director of a new company.

Last night, deputy Lord Mayor Steve Rotheram called for the reasons for another high-ranking officer “jumping ship” to be carefully examined.

Cllr Rotheram said: “The Culture Company lost one of the main organisers of the Mathew Street festival, Lee Forde, and now with a matter of weeks to go we are losing Chris Green. I am surprised at his decision and I want to know if it is symptomatic of feelings among the senior management.”

Mr Green’s decision to leave prompted chief executive Jason Harborow to bring in Bernice Law on secondment from the Northwest Regional Development Agency, as revealed by the Daily Post on Thursday.

Last night, sources at the Culture Company stressed that Mr Green’s decision to leave was not linked to the fiasco of the Mathew Street Festival.

“An offer came along that was just too good for Chris to miss.. His mission was to attract 12 external sponsors and we have signed up 11, with another one soon to sign up,” said one close colleague last night.

Mr Green joined the Culture Company nearly three years ago and was originally responsible for recruiting business partners and optimising other commercial ventures to contribute to the funding of the programme.

Last night Mr Green said he had made a “very difficult decision”, having accepted the offer of a senior director’s role within a new company.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Culture Company and I am pleased to have witnessed the very positive reactions to the recent programme announcement. I very much wanted to stay to be part of the delivery of a successful 2008 but the offer I have received is time-limited.”

larryneild