Pasadena Symphony & Pops Announces CEO Search and Interim Management Plan

The Pasadena Symphony Association Board of Directors has announced the opening of a national search for their next Chief Executive Officer.

The CEO search follows the departure of longtime former CEO Lora Unger to become Executive Director of the Performing Arts Center Eastside in Bellevue, Washington. She began in that position on May 1.

The search will be conducted by Arts Consulting Group, overseen by a Search Committee of the Board of Directors. The selected candidate will be expected to continue the artistic, institutional, and financial growth achieved throughout Unger’s tenure.

During the interim period, the administration of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS will be guided by a leadership team of upper management, overseen by the President and Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

This team will be led by Drew Flaherty, who has been named as Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

Flaherty has extensive knowledge of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS’ operations, having begun his career with the organization in 2009 as Stage Manager, and acting as General Manager for the past eight years, where he oversaw the management of the orchestra, concert production, stage facilities, and artistic planning.

The leadership team also includes Chief Development Officer, Scott Vandrick, and Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Marisa McCarthy, with support from staff members Alex Chu, Director of Education and Community Engagement, and Tim Harwick, Director of Patron Services.

Interested candidates for the CEO position can view the job description at Pasadena Symphony and POPS :: CEO :: Executive Search (artsconsulting.com), and applications and inquiries about the role may be directed to PasadenaSymphony-POPS@ArtsConsulting.com.