Cornelia Schmid Steps Down from Executive Management Role at KD Schmid

The agency will be co-led by Managing Directors Karen McDonald and Christoph Dreschner, while Schmid will become Honorary President

After four decades with the KD Schmid management agency as its owner and Managing Director, Cornelia Schmid will step down from her role with the company, and take on the new title of Honorary President. She will continue to play a role in steering the company in this capacity.

Karen McDonald, who has been the agency's London-based Managing Director for the last 10 years, will lead the company in Schmid's place.

McDonald will be joined by the Berlin-based Christoph Dreschner, who was first appointed to the company in January 2024. Previously, Dreschner spent nearly two decades as Managing Director of the Thuringia Bach Festival.

In September 2021, KD Schmid merged with Hamburg's Konzertdirektion Goette, under the umbrella of Deutsche Klassik. At the time, the two agencies noted that they had been successfully collaborating for several years, and said that they were "stronger together."

This year has seen a number of well-respected and successful agents retiring from practice, with Cornelia Schmid joining Jasper Parrott (HarrisonParrott) and Barrett Wissman (IMG) in moving on.

"We are thrilled to announce Cornelia as our new Honorary President, ensuring her continued, invaluable worldwide presence for the company," KD Schmid wrote in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for Cornelia’s ongoing support and continuing influence on our values."