Brian J. Heidtke Elected to Board President

The Board of Governing Trustees of American Ballet Theatre has elected Andrew F. Barth Chairman and Brian J. Heidtke President.  The elections, which become effective immediately, were announced today by Kara Medoff Barnett, ABT Executive Director.  Barth succeeds Donald Kramer who has held the position as Chairman since 2011. Heidtke succeeds Sharon Patrick who has served as President since 2009.

Andrew Barth is chairman of Capital Guardian Trust Company in Los Angeles and a director of Capital Group International, Inc., where he maintains portfolio management responsibilities in credit fixed-income accounts.  He completed his MBA at Columbia University Graduate School of Business and graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University (Phi Beta Kappa). In addition to serving on the Board of Governing Trustees for American Ballet Theatre, Barth serves on the boards of Beat the Streets in Los Angeles, the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, the California Science Center Foundation, the United States Olympic and Para-Olympic Foundation, Columbia University, the Huntington Museum, Library and Gardens, the American Friends of the Louvre and the Board of Overseers for the Columbia Business School.  Barth joined American Ballet Theatre’s Board of Governing Trustees in 2001 and has served as the Board’s Vice Chairman since 2009. 

“It is a great honor to accept the Chairman’s role from Don Kramer,” said Barth. “I hope to live up to Don’s legacy and that of our other distinguished chairs.  The artistic excellence and outstanding creativity embodied within ABT gives us much to look forward to in the future. “

Brian J. Heidtke is the retired Vice President of Finance and Corporate Treasurer for Colgate­Palmolive Company, where he was responsible for financing policy and all domestic and international treasury matters. He was a director and former chairman of the National Association of Corporate Treasurers and presently serves on the board of the Williams Capital Management Trust.  Heidtke is active on the boards and executive committees of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Archaeological Institute of America. He serves as a trustee for a number of inner­city education and literacy organizations in New York and New Jersey.  Heidtke is a native of St. Paul and graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he also studied at the Graduate School of Business Administration. He is also the President of The Heidtke Foundation in Wyckoff, New Jersey.  A member of American Ballet Theatre’s Board of Governing Trustees since 2000, Heidtke previously served as Board Vice President and Treasurer.  He will continue his role as Co-Chair of the Board’s Education Committee.

"As an ABT trustee, I’ve been especially gratified by the transformation of the Company’s administrative management team to match the artistic excellence long evident under Kevin McKenzie, and by the establishment of ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School,” said Heidtke.  “In partnership with Andy Barth and Kara Barnett, I look forward to sustaining the leadership of America’s National Ballet Company long provided by Sharon Patrick.”

“The future of American Ballet Theatre is in the best of hands with the appointments of Andrew Barth and Brian Heidtke, as Chairman and President, respectively,” said Kara Medoff Barnett.  “Both leaders have shown a true commitment to the ongoing success of this institution. I look forward to collaborating with them closely.”

Former Chairman Donald Kramer has been named Chairman Emeritus of American Ballet Theatre’s Board of Governing Trustees and will continue to serve as Chair of the Board’s audit and finance committees.  Sharon Patrick becomes a Vice Chair of the Board and will continue in her role as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. 

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