Our Senior Executives

About: Our People: Senior Executives Landing Page

The Arts Society's Senior Executive Team is responsible for delivering the charity's strategy, leading our people, and ensuring we continue to provide inspiring opportunities for people to engage with the arts. 

Working closely with our Board of Trustees, the team oversees the organisation's day-to-day operations, drives innovation and growth, and champions our mission to bring people together through a shared passion for arts and culture.

Meet the senior executives who guide our work and help shape the future of The Arts Society.

Portrait Head & Shoulders Photograph of Chief Executive Ian Arnold

Ian Arnold, CEO

Ian was appointed Chief Executive Officer at The Arts Society in April 2025, having joined the organisation 5 months earlier in November 2024, as the Acting CEO.

After graduating in Psychology from the University of St Andrews, Ian spent more than three decades in advertising, including almost 20 years as Managing Director of a full-service agency. Alongside his commercial career, he completed a Master's degree in Marketing and served as a magistrate for nine years.

A firm believer in the value of strategic planning, Ian is passionate about building high-performing teams. He believes that the most successful organisations are those that empower people to think independently, solve problems creatively, and take ownership of results.

As The Arts Society's Chief Executive, Ian's focus is on fostering a culture and working environment in which talented people can thrive and deliver their best work.

Portrait photograph of The Arts Society DCEO Katherine Sutton

Katherine Sutton, DCE

Katherine was appointed to Deputy Chief Executive Officer in 2025 with responsibility for our Education and Volunteering activities as well as supporting our charitable mission more generally.

Following her initial appointment in 2004, Katherine went on to lead the Education Team from 2006, overseeing lecturer recruitment and accreditation, the Directory of Lecturers, and Directory Day, the organisation’s largest annual event. Katherine was also a founding member of both the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and the Lecturing Academy.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Katherine holds a BA in History and Politics and a Master’s degree in Social and Cultural History. She began her career writing ministerial speeches for the Department for Education and Employment before moving into the heritage sector to manage events and press relations for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the UK’s oldest building conservation charity, founded by William Morris in 1877.

Outside work, she enjoys gardening, learning Danish, taking part in her local Parkrun, participating in pub quizzes and discussing classic crime fiction with her Agatha Christie book club.