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Anna van Nunen Appointed New ESNS General Manager
The supervisory board of ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) has appointed Anna van Nunen as the new general manager.
Van Nunen joins with “extensive experience in the festival world and significant knowledge of innovation and sustainability. With Groningen roots and a profound passion for the cultural sector, Anna brings a wealth of expertise to her new role,” the press release announcing her appointment reads, with Groningen referring to the Dutch city, where ESNS takes place each January.
Van Nunen’s succeeds Dago Houben, who announced his departure last June. Her appointment is effective March 18, 2024.
Van Nunen founded Innofest, a platform enabling businesses to trial their sustainability innovations at Dutch festivals. She also helped Greener Power Solutions, a pioneer in clean mobile battery power at events, scale in European as the startup’s commercial director.
She is also the founder of lobbying platform Ik Lobby, and actively participates as a keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator at events such as ESNS, Amsterdam Dance Event, and Dutch Design Week.
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Having grown up frequenting Groningen’s pop venues Vera and Simplon, Van Nunen had ESNS marked in her calendar long before taking an active role in it. “Having grown up in Groningen and with a big heart for the music sector, it is a huge honour to start working as director at Eurosonic Noorderslag,” she said, “I am eager to strengthen the conference and festival with the team. In the coming years, I want to ensure a future-proof organization and a rock-solid positioning of ESNS in Europe.”
Jeroen van Erp, chairman of the supervisory board of ESNS, commented, “ESNS is entering a new phase, one that requires new leadership. As a Supervisory Board, we are very pleased with the appointment of Anna van Nunen as director. With her background in the festival world, experience in sustainability and the start-up world, she embodies what we stand for: Always looking for new talent, new developments where inclusivity and sustainability are of paramount importance.”
ESNS24 will take place Jan. 17 – 20, 2024 in Groningen, the Netherlands.