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Latest news from Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen
PRESS RELEASE
Change of CEO at Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen:
Rune Bech, who reopened Montmartre in 2010, returns as CEO
COPENHAGEN, AUGUST 26, 2024 – Copenhagen's historic jazz venue Jazzhus Montmartre is changing CEO as the man behind the reopening of the venue in 2010, Rune Bech, returns as Chief Executive Officer today, replacing Eva Rehling.
Rune Bech was originally CEO from the time he reopened the venue in 2010 until January 2020, when he was posted to a managing job in a London-based company. He continued, however, as a member of the board of the charitable non-profit foundation behind Montmartre.
Eva Rehling joined in February 2023 and came from the position of manager of the music venue Amager Bio. She had 18 months at the helm of Montmartre. A large part of her management period was characterised by the renovation and soundproofing of the internationally famous venue.
The change of director follows a decline in an application to the Danish Arts Foundation to support Jazzhus Montmartre for four years with a status as a regional music venue. Montmartre, one of Denmark's internationally renowned cultural institutions with roots dating back to 1959, is now facing significantly tighter financial constraints.
Rune Bech's primary task will be to ensure the continued financial basis for Jazzhus Montmartre to continue its operations with over 180 live concerts per year. The house is run with the help of over 40 volunteers, a number of hourly-paid students and one and a half employees on a very modest budget.
Jazzhus Montmartre is able to cover approximately two-thirds of the costs of approximately DKK 9 million for approximately 180 concerts annually with famous jazz stars and highly talented young artists from ticket revenues and bar, but is dependent on cultural support for the last third of the costs from foundations, as well as the state and municipality. The Culture and Leisure Committee of the Municipality of Copenhagen has just extended its support for the house for four years until 2028.
As the original initiator of the reopening of Montmartre, since the house closed in 1995, Rune Bech has in-depth knowledge of the house and the industry and is now tasked with closing the gap after the rejection by the Danish Arts Foundation in collaboration with the board.
Rune Bech is originally a well-known journalist, and was for many years a foreign correspondent for Politiken, and later became an entrepreneur and co-founder of, among others, NetDoktor and Liva Health.
For six years, he was also digital director and member of the management team of TV 2 Danmark from 2001 to 2007, and in that capacity was the pioneer behind the creation of the groundbreaking TV and film service TV 2 Play in 2004, which has since become a golden egg for TV 2 with just over a million paying subscribers.
In addition, Rune Bech has been chairman of the board of directors for, among others, the television provider Waoo and the fiber provider Nianet. In 2014 was appointed to the Ministry of Culture's Public Service Committee under former EU Commissioner Connie Hedegaard.
It was Rune Bech's great passion for jazz that led him to re-establish Jazzhus Montmartre as a not-for-profit initiative in 2010. Initially with pianist Niels Lan Doky as music director for eight months, and then saxophonist Benjamin Koppel. The position has been occupied since 2016 by the internationally renowned Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren.
Chairman of the Board Michael Christiansen, former director of the Royal Danish Theatre and former chairman of DR, thanks Eva Rehling for her efforts during her employment:
“The Board would like to thank Eva Rehling for her efforts over the past 18 months and the great work of remodeling and soundproofing the building. We wish her all the best in her future career.”
At the same time, he expresses satisfaction that he has succeeded in persuading the experienced founder to return to the director's chair to now lead a necessary turnaround that will secure the economy and operations, as well as renew Montmartre for a new era:
"Rune Bech knows the soul of the house, its economy and has strong personal relationships with the network of donors and volunteers. In a time when we have faced unexpected financial challenges, it requires quick and resolute action to ensure the continued operation of the house. His passion, entrepreneurial spirit and strategic experience are what Jazzhus Montmartre needs now - also in relation to developing Montmartre for the future," says Michael Christiansen.
Press contact: admin (a) jazzhusmontmartre.dk