Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners has announced the appointment of Deanne Shallcross as its new Chief Executive Officer. Deanne will replace John Baker who announced his departure from the organisation in March.

Deanne is currently CEO and executive director of Rosehill Arts Trust and became a board member of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners in September last year. She will begin as CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners on July 24, 2023.

Deanne has an excellent track record across business development, fundraising and community engagement. As CEO of Rosehill, Deanne steered the organisation through the impact of Covid-19, secured significant funding and set up an exciting new creative and community programme, which included several new partnerships and collaborations.

Madonna Adams, chair of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Deanne Shallcross as our new CEO. Her passion for community engagement, development and regeneration aligns perfectly with our vision for Whitehaven Harbour. We are confident that under her leadership, the harbour will continue to flourish and become an even more vibrant hub for the town.”

Prior to joining Rosehill in 2018, Deanne worked as a journalist, editor, marketer and PR consultant. In her last two years as a journalist, Deanne edited The Whitehaven News and Times & Star.

Deanne Shallcross added: “I am honoured to have been appointed as the new CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to work with a fantastic team and build on the excellent work carried out by my predecessor, John Baker.

“I am committed to promoting the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the harbour, and I look forward to working closely with the local community, stakeholders and partners to achieve this goal.

“I am also delighted that my new role will allow me to continue working with the Rosehill team, through the exciting collaborative relationship that has been established by the two organisations.”