Birmingham Royal Ballet’s CEO to Step Down 

Due to ill health, Caroline Miller OBE will be leaving the role in April 2025

Caroline Miller OBE first joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet as interim CEO in March 2018, before serving the role permanently after the recruitment of Carlos Acosta CBE as company Director. 

Due to ill health, Miller will officially step down from her role on April 4, 2025. The recruitment process for a new permanent CEO will begin early in the New Year.

The company’s current CCO and Deputy CEO, Paul James, has been appointed Acting CEO with immediate effect. 

During Miller’s tenure, the Birmingham Royal Ballet was the first company to commission new ballets during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first to go on tour and perform live in a ticketed theatre following the lockdowns. 

Notably, she helped commission and produce the world premiere of Black Sabbath – The Ballet, and support the £1 million refurbishment of Sir Peter Wright’s production of The Nutcracker. The Birmingham Ballet is currently the only company in the world to have live-streamed a full production of The Nutcracker. 

Previously, Miller served as Executive Director of Orlando Ballet and for ten years prior, was the Director of Dance UK. An English and History graduate of  Leicester University, she started her career as a box office assistant in 1994, before working as a theatre marketing manager and as a publicist for major arts venues in London — such as the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Southbank Centre, and Sadler’s Wells.

“Working for Birmingham Royal Ballet and having the privilege of leading the Company with Carlos and Sir David Normington, has been one of the greatest honours of my life,” Miller said in the press release. “I really wish I didn't have to step away at this point when so much has been achieved but also so many more opportunities lie ahead, but security of leadership and someone who can work well with Carlos and the whole team, is the most important thing for the Company right now.”

“I was aware of the great things that Caroline had already achieved in the dance world, and so I was looking forward to working with her when I joined BRB as Director in January 2020,” Acosta expressed. “Caroline more than lived up to her reputation and I could not have hoped for a finer CEO. Caroline is a staunch advocate for the arts and a true champion of dance. Always upbeat and positive, during our time together at BRB, we have reaffirmed BRB’s position as one of the world's great ballet companies. I will miss her energy, can-do attitude and magic touch, not forgetting her infectious sense of humour.”

“Over the last six and a half years Caroline has brought to BRB energy, passion, creativity and an unrivalled knowledge of the dance industry,” added Sir David, Chair of Birmingham Royal Ballet. “Her partnership with Carlos Acosta has ushered in a golden period in BRB’s story. On behalf of everyone at BRB, I send her our grateful thanks and deepest affection — we will miss her terribly.”

The Violin Channel extends our best wishes to Caroline Miller.