ICA gallery appoints new director

Guy Perricone is a former solicitor

Guy Perricone has been appointed as the new managing director of London's Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA).

The businessman and former-solicitor will work alongside journalist Ekow Eshun who was made artistic director of the ICA in March.

It will his job to develop a solid financial and business platform for the ICA to build its artistic vision.

Mr Perricone, 43, from London, said he was "absolutely thrilled" to be joining the gallery.

He will take up the role on 8 August.

'Practical visionary'

Mr Perricone joins the ICA from ABN AMRO of the Netherlands, one of the world's largest financial institutions, where he was chief operating officer for Global Corporate Finance.

He describes his new role at the ICA as that of a "practical visionary" whose mission is to support the artistic programme and enable each discipline to flourish and develop.

He said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the ICA, and I am extremely grateful to the council for giving me this opportunity.

"I hope to provide a strong and secure platform for our activities, allowing Ekow and his team to realise their artistic vision for the ICA optimally. "

Alan Yentob, ICA chairman, said: "This is a wonderful appointment for the ICA. Guy is the perfect person to work alongside Ekow."

The ICA was created in 1947 by poet Sir Herbert Read and artist Roland Penrose to provide a creative space outside London's Royal Academy.

Its reputation for shaking up the art world took off in the 1960s when it displayed blood, worms and sperm in a psychedelic light show.