Back office: Toronto grabs Cleveland star

The new chief exec of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is to be Mark Williams, presently Chief Artistic and Operations Officer at the Cleveland Orchestra. Mark has been right-hand man to music director Franz Welser-Möst, adding a seasonal opera prodution and regular new-music performances to the Cleveland output. He crosses the US-Canada border in April.

He says: ‘From the first meeting with the orchestra, board, and staff members of the search committee, I felt palpable chemistry and knew that leading this incredible organization would be an extraordinary opportunity. This is an orchestra with immense musical gifts, big ambitions, limitless energy, and a desire to connect with its community through music. I look forward to forging deep and long-lasting relationships with Torontonians, and getting to know the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s dedicated patrons, subscribers, and donors. I have been privileged to work with Gustavo Gimeno for many years as a guest conductor at The Cleveland Orchestra, and I feel confident that our strong partnership will achieve his artistic vision for Toronto’s great orchestra. My husband Joseph and I are eager to call Toronto, one of the world’s greatest cities, home.’

Toronto has not managed to keep a chief exec for more than a couple of years this past decade.