Peter Herrndorf stepping down as NAC CEO

By Lia Pizarro

Peter Herrndorf, president and CEO of the National Arts Centre, will be stepping down from the role next year after serving for nearly two decades as leader of the country’s largest performing arts organization.

His planned departure was announced Sept 18.

Adrian Burns, chair of the NAC’s board of directors, said that he will begin the search for Herrndorf’s successor immediately.

Burns praised Herrndorf as an influential and beloved leader in the performing arts, supporting countless artists and art organizations across Canada throughout his career.

Herrndorf is credited with engineering a $225.4-million architectural and production renewal project, having gained support from both the Conservative and Liberal governments to construct 60,000 square feet of new space at the Elgin Street performance centre.

The project transformed the NAC’s controversial, bunker-like architecture into Ottawa’s “living room”, with a more welcoming, glass-walled entrance and striking new views of the city.

Upgrades were also made to the centre’s performance halls and facilities. The first two levels of the building’s new wing opened on Canada Day.

Herrndorf also helped to establish a privately supported $25-million New Creations Fund for new works of music, dance and theatre. Gail Asper, president and a trustee of The Asper Foundation, was the lead donor.

Before joining the NAC, Herrndorf worked with the CBC in the mid-1960s, moving from Winnipeg, Edmonton and Toronto until eventually becoming vice-president of CBC’s English radio and TV operations. He moved on to become the publisher of Toronto Life magazine until 1992, then served as CEO of TVOntario until 1999.