San Diego Symphony appoints new CEO

The San Diego Symphony on Thursday named a new chief executive officer to succeed the outgoing Edward “Ward” Gill, who has led the orchestra for more than a decade.

Martha Gilmer, who is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s vice president for artistic planning and audience development, will start her new job in San Diego on Sept. 24 for a three-year appointment.

Gilmer has worked at the Chicago Symphony for more than three decades in various capacities. Her new appointment marks the second high-level departure from the Chicago orchestra, after Deborah Rutter stepped down as president to take a job leading the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

Gill announced his plan to step down from the San Diego orchestra last year. He joined the organization in 2003 following a period with the Minnesota Orchestra.

The San Diego Symphony’s main performance venue is Copley Symphony Hall. In addition to a full orchestral season, musicians of the symphony also serve as the pit orchestra for the San Diego Opera, which recently reversed its controversial decision to close and will be launching a new season.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT