Culture Hub Seeks New CEO As Pescod Departs

The head of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Duncan Pescod, is to leave the role by "mutual consent" later this year, with the culture hub asking the government to second a staff member to fill the role.

Pescod, a former government official, took the top job at the authority in 2015, months after taking up the post of chief operating officer. No reason has been given for his departure, which was revealed at a board meeting on Tuesday and comes nine months before his contract expires.

The authority said it would conduct an "open and thorough" search for Pescod's replacement and will ask the government to send an official to take over his duties in the short term.

The authority's chairman, Henry Tang, said: "Under Duncan’s strong leadership, the district gradually moved from construction phase to the operational phase, witnessing and achieving significant milestones in the development.

"During his tenure, the smooth commissioning of different arts and culture and construction projects, as well as Duncan’s determination to surmount numerous challenges have all laid a solid foundation for the district’s future development in the long term."

The struggling arts hub has been plagued by cost overruns and construction delays, and its operating deficit is expected to hit HK$1.5 billion by the 2022-23 financial year.

Pescod replaced veteran Australian arts administrator Michael Lynch, who retired after four years at the helm of the culture hub. The appointment proved constroversial with many in the local arts community, who pointed out that Pescod lacked culture experience.

Since he took over, the culture hub's first major facility, the Xiqu centre for Chinese opera, has opened its doors. Work continues on other facilities including the M+ museum.

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