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April 23, 2008 – Successfully completing its new management team, The Joffrey Ballet announced today that current Joffrey Ballet
Vice President of External Affairs and Acting Executive Director Christopher Clinton Conway has been named permanently to the post of Executive Director. The announcement was made
by Joffrey Ballet Board Chairman Maureen Dwyer Smith. Conway will join the Joffrey’s new Artistic Director, Ashley C. Wheater, in leading the world-famous Company as it prepares for
a much-anticipated September move into its new permanent home in the eponymous 34-story Joffrey Tower at State and Randolph Streets.
“Christopher is an extraordinarily able executive and has proven himself to be a passionate supporter of this company. We are very fortunate to have such an expert arts leader in this
post,” said Smith.
“Christopher is ideally suited to help lead The Joffrey into the future with his strong ties to the community and leadership in the arts nationally. His brilliant energy, passion and
dedication will continue to drive the Company forward,” said Wheater.
“For past three years, I have been privileged to work with The Joffrey in actualizing an administrative and artistic home in the heart of Chicago’s theater district. I am honored
to join Ashley, the board, dancers, subscribers and staff in realizing the vision of America’s ballet company permanently headquartered in America’s hometown,” said Conway.
Conway, 37, has devoted his entire professional career to arts management and philanthropy serving in highly visible positions at major cultural and consultancy organizations around the country. Conway
came to the Joffrey in September 2005 as counsel from a national consultancy to non-profit organizations, where he served as Vice President and Chief Client Liaison for the Eastern U.S. (including
Joffrey and Miami City Ballet). Prior to consulting, Conway served as Director of Development for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In February 2007, he joined the Joffrey
Ballet as Director of Development and was soon promoted to Vice President of External Affairs. Conway’s tenure has been a dynamic one marked by unparalleled partnerships which position
Joffrey as one of the world’s most prestigious arts brands. Bentley, Lamborghini, Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Escada, and NetJets have all joined with the Company in high-profile
ways.
Conway is an oft quoted arts and philanthropy expert most recently featured on Bloomberg Television and in publications which include W Magazine, International Herald Tribune, Chicago Tribune and New
York Newsday. His volunteer involvement includes serving on the board of Art Smith’s Common Threads and as a key advisor to the multi-billion dollar Annenberg Foundation. He
has a Juris Doctorate degree from the Washington University School of Law (St. Louis, MO) and was a Visiting Scholar at the Northwestern University School of Law (Chicago, IL). His undergraduate
degree is from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
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