Nationally recognized fundraising professional Elizabeth Hurley will join Lyric Opera of Chicago as its new chief development officer, the company announced today. Hurley will be stepping into the role on March 1, 2018.

“Elizabeth comes to us with tremendous expertise, vision, and energy. I am thrilled that she will be joining the Lyric team,” said General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud. “Elizabeth has held key development roles at some of the country’s most significant arts organizations,” Freud continued. Her phenomenal experience and her deep, working knowledge of Chicago and philanthropy from a national perspective, make her a perfect fit to guide Lyric’s fundraising efforts forward.”

Mary Ladish Selander, Lyric’s current chief development officer, is leaving to focus on her private firm, which will consult for Lyric. “I’ve known and respected Elizabeth for over two decades, and consider her one of the best in the field today,” she said. “I simply can’t think of a candidate more fully qualified to take on one of the company’s most crucial roles.”

Hurley has more than 30 years of experience in arts administration, currently serving as vice president for development and public affairs at The Juilliard School in New York City, overseeing a 40-person team responsible for all philanthropic, marketing, performance, retail, and communications activity. Elizabeth’s roles at some of Chicago’s cultural institutions include vice president of museum development at The Art Institute of Chicago, executive director at the Grant Park Music Festival, and development roles at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Hurley holds two degrees in English Literature; a BA from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee and an MA from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.