The Royal Ballet and Opera is delighted to congratulate Sir Alex Beard CBE, as he is awarded a Knighthood in The King’s Birthday Honours. 

Friday 13 June 2025

Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Ballet and Opera since 2013, Sir Alex Beard has been recognised for his Services to the Arts. 

Sir Lloyd Dorfman CVO CBE, Chair of the Royal Ballet and Opera said: 

“My heartfelt congratulations to Alex on this well-deserved honour. All of us at the Royal Ballet and Opera are delighted to see Alex’s leadership recognised in one of the most esteemed Honours in our country. Alex’s approach is one of bold vision, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the transformative power of the arts.” 

Sir Alex Beard CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera said:  

“The Royal Ballet and Opera is an extraordinary collective of remarkable talents, whose achievements bring joy and fulfilment to so many, both in our theatres and in communities right across the country. I am deeply honoured to be their colleague, and to have been recognised in this way.” 

Since assuming leadership in 2013, Beard has guided the Royal Ballet and Opera through a period of remarkable transformation and resilience. Under his direction, the Royal Opera House’s iconic Grade I listed home has been revitalised, and the organisation has emerged from the challenges of the pandemic stronger than ever, cementing its status as one of the world’s foremost artistic institutions. 

As the UK’s largest performing arts organisation, RBO operates sites across London, Thurrock, and Aberdare, employing 300 artists within a workforce of more than 1,100 full time staff and a further 2000 freelancers. With over 500 performances each year and an average occupancy rate of 96%, the Royal Opera House is now the most intensively used theatre in Europe. 

A key milestone of his tenure has been significantly expanding RBO’s educational and digital footprint. Today, the organisation’s national learning programmes reach more than 100,000 young people across the country each year, while innovative digital content, streaming, and cinema relays have extended RBO’s global reach like never before.

Beyond RBO, Beard serves as Chairman of High House Production Park Ltd, a beacon for creative excellence in Thurrock’s Thames Gateway. His earlier career at Tate, where he was instrumental in the creation of Tate Modern and led operations across all four galleries, laid the foundation for his exceptional contribution to the arts.