Capital of Culture boss Kris Donaldson says he's sorry to leave Liverpool
Jan 28 2009
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post
CULTURE Company director Kris Donaldson last night said working on Liverpool’s flagship 08 year had been more fulfilling than the Sydney Olympics as he prepared to return to Australia.
Mr Donaldson will be leaving the Culture Company at the end of February as the organisation starts to be wound up, after spending five years in Liverpool working on Capital of Culture.
Last night Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley paid tribute to Mr Donaldson as one of the unsung heroes that had helped make 08 such a success.
He is the only remaining member of the “dream team” of three unveiled in 2004 to spearhead the year.
Kevin Johnson, chief operating officer, was gone within weeks for “family reasons”, and former chief executive Jason Harborow departed in acrimony last February with a £230,000 pay-off.
Mr Donaldson, originally marketing director, stepped into Mr Harborow’s role and has quietly gone about the job.
“I have always considered myself to be more of a behind-the-scenes operator,” he said.
“Where it was necessary I did become more public, but that was not my role. Jason was playing that role, and when Phil Redmond [creative director] came in September 2007 there was probably no better manager of the media than Phil, both locally, nationally and internationally.”
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