Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Chief Executive Officer to Step Down

The CEO of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Tim Cooke, has announced that he will step down from the role in November after serving almost seven years.

“It has been a huge honour to lead the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust," he said, "and to be part of its wonderfully purposeful endeavour as a museum exploring and sharing the Shakespearean heritage of Stratford upon Avon, alongside programmes which invite so many millions of people around the globe to encounter the amazing insights and lessons of Shakespeare’s work for how we live today as individuals and as a global community. I have been truly blessed to work with passionate and inspirational colleagues and I wish them and the Trust every success in the future.”

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Chair, Lady Cobham, said: “The Board is enormously grateful to Tim for his leadership in what has been a significant period for us, especially when faced with the challenges of the pandemic. Tim’s vision has been vital to redefining the next stages of our strategy, our future direction and the longer term capital projects that are required for our future success.

"The recent announcement of investment by West Midlands Combined Authority in the Gateway scheme in Stratford is a real manifestation of Tim’s partnership vision with Stratford upon Avon District Council. It paves the way for the next stage of exploration to potentially create a new world-class Shakespeare museum on the site. We wish Tim all the very best for the future.”