THE man behind the opening and closing ceremonies at the London Olympics is set to oversee Hull's year in the spotlight as the UK City of Culture.
The appointment of Martin Green as chief executive of the city's new culture company is being seen as a major coup for the 2017 team led by recently-installed chairman Rosie Millard.
Mr Green is expected to start work in the £130,000-a-year role in October, having masterminded this month's opening ceremony of the Tour de France Grand Depart in Leeds as the event's executive producer.
He said he was excited to be given the chance to put Hull on the map.
"I'm here because it's Hull," he said.
"With its great cultural heritage and its ambition to use culture to transform perceptions of the city and the lives of local people, Hull embodies what being UK City of Culture is all about.
"As chief executive, I want to bring together the best local, national and international talent to deliver an inspirational, ambitious artistic programme that will put Hull on the map before, during and after 2017.
"It is a huge opportunity that I am determined will deliver a lasting legacy for the city and I am absolutely delighted to be part of the team."
Mr Green is best known for his role as head of ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Overseeing a multi-million pound budget, he recruited film director Danny Boyle and a team of artistic directors to deliver a series of spectacular and memorable ceremonies.
He also led the two successful torch relays for the games, which saw 15 million people line the streets of the UK in an unique community celebration.
Ms Millard, said: "Martin is exactly the kind of person we had in mind for this role, right from the start.
"We needed someone who had not only run high-profile events on a huge scale, but who also had that rare talent for identifying and conveying the true qualities of a place, the quirks, the strengths, the passions that have developed through generations to give a place its unique character.
"Martin did exactly that for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.
"He assembled and led a team that turned visions into reality and captured the imagination of the whole world.
"I can't think of anyone more suited to doing the same for Hull."
