New chairman of The Lowry

The Lowry, a hugely popular and award-winning arts venue on Salford Quays, today announces that Rodney Aldridge OBE is the new Chairman, following the sad and untimely death earlier this year of former Chair, Charles Levison.

A Chartered Public Accountant, Aldridge has a 40 year record of achieving improvements in public services through working in both the public and private sectors.

An extremely successful entrepreneur, Aldridge was responsible for the formation of Capita Group and its transformation from a public sector enterprise into a highly successful FTSE 100 company growing a workforce from 1 to 26,000 in 22 years. In 1994, he was awarded an OBE for services to the computer services industry. He is a former Chairman of the CBI’s Public Services Strategy Board

Julia Fawcett, Chief Executive of The Lowry says, “We welcome Rod’s extensive expertise, business acumen and his commitment to build on our successes and take us onto the next phase of our exciting project. Rod has an invaluable role to play in helping us to deliver our objectives and his superb network of contacts in business and politics will help us to develop our national profile.”

Rod is deeply committed to education, passionate in his commitment to equality of opportunity and access for all. He is sponsor of a new City Academy in Darwen near Blackburn for 1,600 young people. The Academy will specialise in entrepreneurship aiming to equip pupils with a set of life skills ranging from personal management, interaction with their local community and business experience. In 2001 he was invited by HRH the Prince of Wales to become a Trustee of The Prince’s Trust, an organisation Rod had been involved with for 11 years. He also chaired for The Trust the national steering group responsible for developing its national xl programme providing in school clubs which over time has assisted 15,000 14-17 year olds who were at risk of under achievement or exclusion from school.

Rod Aldridge is delighted with his new appointment as Chair of both The Lowry Trust and The Lowry’s Operating Company. He commented, “I am thrilled to be involved with The Lowry and together with the Trustees, Salford Council and the excellent management team at the venue, I’m keen to continue to develop the vision and build on existing achievements. The Lowry’s social agenda is particularly appealing to me as I’m a strong believer that a good education and an opportunity to develop are fundamental to a full and successful life. I am committed to helping The Lowry play a significant role in the continued development of Salford and the Greater Manchester community.”

Earlier this year, Aldridge was appointed Chair of v, the new youth led charity established to champion youth volunteering a in England aiming to inspire a million more 16-25 year olds to volunteer. In July 2006, following his retirement from Capita, Rod established The Aldridge Foundation, to further his work on education underachievement in young people and more generally on public service reform.