The Director of Essex Business School Professor Michael Sherer has become a non-executive director of the highly respected Mercury Theatre in Colchester.

Professor Sherer said: ‘’I am delighted to have joined the board. It is a privilege and honour, and on behalf of the University and Essex Business School I look forward to making a contribution and offering our support to the Mercury Theatre ’’.

Chairman of the Mercury Theatre board, Richard Bailey, said: “Michael’s business experience will add to the skills of our talented voluntary board, bringing a financial and managerial perspective to our governance and building on the Mercury’s already excellent links with the University”.

Professor Sherer will bring a wealth of financial and managerial experience to the role and also has a great interest in theatre. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, has been a leading academic for more than three decades and has been Director of Essex Business School since it officially opened in 2008. He is chairman of the board of the Real Circumstance Theatre Company based in Colchester and in a previous role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Essex he was responsible for East 15 Acting School.