The board of Wexford Festival Opera has announced the appointment of David McLoughlin as "interim executive". Mr McLoughlin (39) will have responsibility "both for the festival and the soon-to-be-opened Wexford Opera House", and the period of his appointment is expected to last "a maximum of six months".
His appointment has been made "in order to facilitate the board's national and international recruitment of a permanent chief executive officer, which is currently under way."
Mr McLoughlin comes to Wexford from a film background. He has been involved in film production since the mid-1990s and founded Distinguished Features Ltd with Clare Doyle in 2000. His production credits include Zulu 9, Puckoon, Dead Bodies and Cinegael Paradiso. He is chairman of the Dublin International Film Festival and has been chief executive officer of Screen Producers Ireland since May 2005.
His appointment follows the departure of Michael Hunt as the festival's chief executive. Mr Hunt, appointed in July 2006, oversaw festivals in October 2006 and June 2007, and resisted an attempt by the board to remove him. The matter was resolved on agreed terms at the High Court on July 2nd.