The chief executive of the Brighton Dome is to step down after 16 years at the helm.
Andrew Comben, 50, who was also the boss of the Brighton Festival, announced his departure from the arts organisation this morning.
He joined Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival as chief executive in 2008, establishing the guest director model for England's largest curated multi-arts festival, which has since hosted Anish Kapoor, Kate Tempest, and Frank Cottrell-Boyce among others.
The departing chief executive, who will leave in September, said: "It is a wrench to be leaving this great city on the edge, which I will always love, but I am confident Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival is just at the start of an incredibly exciting creative adventure and can’t wait to see what it produces next."
He will join music charity Britten Pears Arts as their new chief executive, and well-wishers have thanked him for his time running the Dome and Festival.
Brighton Dome and Festival chairman of trustees Danny Homan said: "We are enormously sad that the time has come for Andrew to move on after leading Brighton Dome, Brighton Festival and Create Music with such skill and distinction.
"During his tenure, Andrew and his team have transformed our organisation and he leaves us in robust health and full of creativity and ambition. Andrew will be missed by colleagues and stakeholders across the city and the region where he has had such a positive and enduring impact.
"The trustees and I are hugely grateful for all his hard work and accomplishments and wish him well with his new challenge."
The Dome and Festival also took over the management and operation of Brighton and Hove Music and Arts, and East Sussex Music Service, which helps around 20,000 children each week make music across 270 schools.
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His leadership reached audiences of more than 650,000 per year and led the £38 million redevelopment of Brighton Dome's Corn Exchange and Studio theatre.
Comben added: "The last 16 years at Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival have been the most enjoyable, mind-stretching and challenging of my career and I have been honoured to lead such a committed and talented team, guided by such an insightful and supportive board of trustees.
"We have always sought to enable Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival to be an organisation that works alongside its partners and its communities - one that is properly in service to its residents and visitors, not just in providing great art and entertainment but in developing skills, social cohesion and economic benefit for everyone.
"Crucial to that aim has been the steadfast commitment of Brighton and Hove City Council and Arts Council England and I am grateful to them, and to all our funders, patrons and supporters, for their belief in the role Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival plays in this city and the wider region and for all their advice and guidance over the years."
Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival will launch the search for a new chief executive shortly.
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