Alex Beard CBE

Alex Beard CBE is Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House. He was appointed in March 2013, taking up the role in September that year.

Alex was educated at Manchester Grammar School, Westminster School and King’s College London. He worked for a year at KPMG before joining the Arts Council in 1986. In 1995 he became Director of Finance and Administration of Tate, becoming Director of Business there in 1999 and Deputy Director in 2002. During Alex’s time with Tate he worked closely with Director Nicholas Serota in the creation of Tate Modern, the development programme for Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Tate St Ives and the launch of The Tanks at Tate Modern in summer 2012, while also overseeing the business operations of the Tate galleries. At the end of 2012 he was appointed a CBE for his services to the arts.

Alex has a life-long love of opera and more latterly a passionate enthusiasm for ballet. He was on the Board of Directors of Glyndebourne Productions Ltd from 2008-2013 and is currently on the Board of 14-18 NOW, the First World War Cultural Programme, as well as the DCMS Philanthropy Board. Past external board memberships include RMN Grand Palais Conseil d’Orientation Stratégique, Esmee Fairburn Foundation Finance Panel and Global Giving UK. He is a keen cyclist, cricketer and cook.