Robert Van Leer will assume the leadership post at The Wallis on April 1. (photo by photo by Ineke Oostveen)

Robert van Leer, an accomplished arts administrator highly respected for his breadth of experience with renowned arts organizations in the United States and Europe, has been named executive director and chief executive officer of Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, announces The Wallis Board Chair Michael Nemeroff. Van Leer assumes the leadership post at The Wallis on April 1.

Most recently, van Leer served as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning. In overseeing a $90 million budget, he expanded Kennedy Center’s classical and contemporary programming, including the addition of Hip Hop Culture and Social Impact. Additionally, he led the vision for the 2019 transformative addition of REACH, the Kennedy Center’s first-ever expansion, with flexible indoor and outdoor performance space designed to nurture new artists and expand community. Van Leer began his arts administration career at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York and worked in London as an executive administrator at the Wigmore Hall then as head of music and arts projects at the Barbican Centre. Subsequently, he became managing director of Nederlands Dans Theatre, where he re-envisioned the mission of the company as a leading international creative ensemble. He also led Wonderbird UK, a boutique cultural consultancy that advised cultural and corporate clients on social, cultural and fundraising policy.

“The Wallis’ search committee and our dedicated board of directors are confident Robert van Leer is the most qualified person to lead The Wallis in its next evolutionary stage,” Nemeroff said. “As an extremely talented performing arts executive, having run performing arts centers and built teams in various CEO, managing director and senior level leadership roles, he has had the experience and impact we sought. His artistic planning and presenting work has been at the highest levels. He is also tremendously skilled in strategic planning, community relations, fundraising and board development. As The Wallis heads into its 10th Season, we’ve undergone tremendous artistic growth and achieved notable fiscal and organizational stability, so we believe that Robert, with his visionary leadership, keen creative thinking and broad world view, will build upon that solid foundation, further elevating The Wallis as a cultural institution of international renown.”

“Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is an extraordinary organization with a well-deserved reputation for excellence and innovation,” van Leer said. “I am honored to assume its leadership and shepherd The Wallis at this exciting time in its history. I look forward to having the opportunity to thoughtfully shape organizational strategies that go beyond the stage and build upon The Wallis’ exceptional artistic, educational and community programs. At this point in my career, I am thrilled to be moving to Los Angeles and committing myself to the Wallis and the creative life of this diverse, complex and ever-changing city.”

For information about The Wallis, visit thewallis.org. The Wallis is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd.