Search for new blood as two arts chiefs quit
The heads of two of Hong Kong's most important arts and culture organisations have stepped down.
Shaw Soo-wei, executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, will leave the post when her two-year contract expires at the end of September. Meanwhile, So Hau-leung has resigned from his position as chief executive of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society.
Shaw's departure emerged when the film festival placed a recruitment advertisement for her position in today's papers. Shaw, a granddaughter of movie industry giant Run Run Shaw, said that she decided to move on for 'personal reasons', but she will remain in the film industry.
'I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with an amazing team and some of the best talent in the film industry,' she said.
Over the past year, the HKIFF Society has seen a 41 per cent increase in corporate cash sponsorship, while the media value of its global press coverage has risen 46 per cent compared with last year's festival.
The society's chairman, Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, said he appreciated Shaw's contribution to raising the festival's international profile and bringing new ideas. He said the festival would launch a global search to replace Shaw and hoped her successor would continue its development.
'It will be difficult to find the right person to fill this position, but we are still confident,' Wong said.
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Society announced the resignation of its top administrator, So. 'So will continue in his present post until mid-November 2010, when he will leave the society to pursue other interests,' the announcement said, without giving details.
The 62-year old veteran arts manager took up the post on July 6 last year. His one-year stint marks the shortest term of office for the post since the orchestra turned professional in 1974.
A brief statement quoted Y.S. Liu, the orchestra's board chairman, as saying he 'regrets the departure of Mr So'. Edo de Waart, artistic director, is also quoted as saying: 'I have enjoyed working with Hau-leung and am sorry to see him leave.'
The news came one week after the end of the 2009-10 season. It is the second resignation from a top position in the orchestra in four months, with de Waart in March saying he would leave the orchestra in 2012.
While So was not available for comment, orchestra members were generally surprised by the move.
'This is very sudden. We only heard the news in the office yesterday. There are those who are not aware of it yet,' said a marketing staff member who declined to be named.
Leung Kin-fung, the orchestra's first associate concertmaster, said So's decision to leave could be a calculated move.
'He is probably too tired because there are so many things happening in the orchestra, such as cancellations of soloists and, most of all, the search for the next artistic director,' Leung said.
'But it could also be that a candidate has been identified to take his place, given the fact that So stated on day one he was transitional in the job. I am just surprised it came so early.'
Leung's remarks contrast with the orchestra's statement that there will be 'an international search for Mr So's successor immediately'.
