Recruitment for WAA’s New ED Begins: Request for Proposals Released

WAA released a Request for Proposals (RFP) from executive search firms today as part of the recruitment process for WAA’s next Executive Director. Current Executive Director, Tim Wilson — who has led the organization since 1997 — will step down at the end of September 2022.

The RFP, which seeks proposals from executive search firms and consultants specializing in non-profit arts organizations and associations, was developed by WAA’s recently finalized Executive Search Committee, comprised of a diverse cross-section of industry leaders and WAA members — artists, agent-managers, and presenters. The members of the committee include Aisha Ahmad-Post, Gail Boyd, Armando Castellano, Joseph Copley, Antonio Gomez, Pamela Green, Leilehua Lanzilotti, Joe McIalwain, Nadhi Thekkek, Cathy Weiss, and Martin Wolleson.

Proposals are due on January 6, 2022, after which the committee will interview and select the most qualified consulting team to partner to help lead the search process. 

“Tim has provided tremendous leadership for our organization and its members over the last 25 years. The task of our Executive Search Committee will be to identify the next leader for WAA who can successfully steward the important professional development programs Tim and the WAA team have created, as they also work to preserve and enhance the communication, connection, continued growth, and success of the WAA community, and the performing arts industry at large,” said WAA President and committee chair Joe McIalwain.

The committee aims to select a search firm by January 21, 2022, and for the new ED to join the team in August 2022, in time for the WAA Annual Conference in Calgary (August 29 – September 1, 2022), giving Tim and the new ED time for a smooth and successful transition. 

Questions about the search should be directed to search@westarts.org