The managing director at the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall will retire after the renovation of the two venues is complete.
Robert Sanderson, 69, will leave the role at the end of April 2018, when the £3.3m renovation work on the venues will finish.
He has been in the role for nine years.
Mr Sanderson said he was ‘immensely proud to have played my part’ but is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Margaret at their home in Suffolk and returning to his arts management consultancy business.
He joined as interim managing director in January 2009 and initially only planned to stay for three months.
Mr Sanderson said: “When I came here I could see straight away that the venue and the staff had such great, untapped potential so I said I would take it on full time with a view to transforming the organisation.
“I’d always wanted to run an original Victorian theatre and an acoustically perfect, modern concert hall, that’s absolutely true, and suddenly here it was.”
Mr Sanderson reflected on his nine years spent at the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall.
He said: “This venue is now without doubt one of the most successful arts and entertainment venues in the country.
“It plays host to the very best performers and producers, we work with some of the UK’s biggest concert promoters and our Nottingham Classics international concert season is the only major orchestral series in the country that thrives without subsidy.
“That’s an incredible achievement and a testament to the loyalty and support of our amazing audiences.
“I’ve been here for nine years, I’ve done the job I came here to do, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment, expertise and sheer hard work of all my colleagues.
“I leave the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall in the hands of a very capable team, who I have no doubt will take the venue from strength to strength.”
Deputy leader of Nottingham City Council Graham Chapman paid tribute to Mr Sanderson and said: “He’s been exceptional.
“He has achieved a unique balance between providing a first class programme for both the Royal Concert Hall and the Theatre Royal – at the same time he has moved both from loss making to profitable organisations.
“I doubt whether any other director in the UK could match his record; he has provided a great service to the city for which we should be very grateful.”
