BRB's Caroline Miller OBE to step down from her role of CEO due to ill health

 It is with sadness that Birmingham Royal Ballet today announces that CEO Caroline Miller will be stepping down from her role due to ill health.

Caroline Miller OBE said; ‘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. 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.’

Carlos Acosta said: ‘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. 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. Since 2020, we have staged six world premieres including the hugely successful Black Sabbath-The Ballet, we launched BRB2, our junior company, we have introduced BRB to many new audiences worldwide and, just last summer, we stood proud on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. I will miss her energy, can-do attitude and magic touch, not forgetting her infectious sense of humour. I wish her only good things for the next chapter of her life.’

Sir David Normington, Chair of Birmingham Royal Ballet said: ‘This is the news we have feared and so much did not want to hear. Over the last six and a half years Caroline has brought to BRB energy, passion, creativity and an unrivalled knowledge of the dance industry. Her partnership with Carlos Acosta has ushered in a golden period in BRB’s story. She had so much more to give and we will miss her terribly. On behalf of everyone at BRB, I send her our grateful thanks and deepest affection.’

Caroline will officially leave Birmingham Royal Ballet on 4 April 2025. Paul James, currently CCO and Deputy CEO, has been appointed Acting CEO with immediate effect. The recruitment process for a new permanent CEO will begin early in the New Year.

During Caroline’s tenure at BRB, the company recruited Carlos Acosta as Director and was the first company to commission new ballets during covid (Lazuli Sky and Don Quixote). During the pandemic BRB was also the first company to go on tour and perform live in a ticketed theatre (The REP and Sadler's Wells) and was the only company in the world to live stream a full production of The Nutcracker. Another highlight of Caroline’s tenure was the commissioning, and world premiere, of Black Sabbath - The Ballet, as well as the £1million refurbishment of Sir Peter Wright’s sumptuous production of The Nutcracker. Caroline Miller OBE joined Birmingham Royal Ballet as Interim Chief Executive Officer for 12 months and was appointed permanent Chief Executive Officer in December 2018. Caroline previously served as Executive Director of Orlando Ballet in the USA.

Before that, she spent 10 years as the Director of Dance UK, (one of the four organisations merged to form One Dance UK) the national body representing the professional dance sector. During her tenure she worked closely with dance science experts to establish the first National Institute of Dance Medicine & Science, for which she was recognised in the 2014 Evening Standard list of the 1,000 most influential Londoners. In January 2016 Caroline was awarded the De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. In January 2017 she was awarded an OBE for Services to the Arts in the Queen's New Year's Honours. s a publicist for major arts venues in London, including the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Southbank Centre and Sadler’s Wells. 

Click here for Caroline’s full biography.

The entire team at One Dance UK sends their very best and warmest wishes to Caroline at this time.