Alex Beard (arts manager)

Sir Alexander Charles Beard CBE was the deputy director of the Tate from 2002 to 2013. In March 2013, he was appointed as the new chief executive of the Royal Opera House, London, succeeding Tony Hall, who relinquished the post on his appointment as Director-General of the BBC. Beard took up the post at the ROH in September 2013.

Education

He was educated at Manchester Grammar School, Westminster School and King's College London.

Career

Beard spent nineteen years with the Tate and previously worked for the Arts Council England for seven years and for KPMG. At the Tate, he was responsible for the business plan for the creation of Tate Modern. He was also a member of the Board of Glyndebourne Productions from 2008 to 2013.

Family

Alex Beard married Katharine Betty Warde-Aldam in 1993 and has a son and a daughter, Alfred John Wells Beard and Betty Rose Beard.

Honours

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the arts in the New Year Honours at the end of 2012 and was made a Knight Batchelor, again for services to the arts, in the King's Birthday Honours of 2025.