National Arts Centre promotes communications exec Annabelle Cloutier to CEO, president

The National Arts Centre's board of trustees says Annabelle Cloutier, shown in this undated handout photo, begins a five-year term as president and chief executive officer immediately. Cloutier takes the reins after serving as executive director of strategy and communications and corporate secretary to the board. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - NAC, Remi Theriault (Mandatory Credit)

The National Arts Centre has appointed a longtime communications executive to its top post.

NAC’s board of trustees says Annabelle Cloutier begins a five-year term as president and chief executive officer immediately.

Cloutier takes the reins after serving as NAC’s executive director of strategy and communications and corporate secretary to the board.

She worked closely with former president and CEO Christopher Deacon, who retired Dec. 3 and describes Cloutier as someone who “lives and breathes the arts of the stage.”

Cloutier is credited with helping the NAC usher in a digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and navigate a post-pandemic renewal, and was central to 50th anniversary celebrations and the launch of the Indigenous Theatre, both in 2019.

More recently, she helped steer cultural showcases at Expo 2020 Dubai and Expo 2025 Osaka, and an Orchestra tour of Korea and Japan.

The board said in a release that Cloutier stood out from a global executive search as someone “bringing vision, energy and imagination to one of Canada’s most cherished cultural institutions.”

Cloutier said she believes deeply “in the fundamental role of the arts in our society.”

“My immediate priorities will be to engage with artists and arts leaders from across the country to connect actively with our national audiences, and to collaborate with and support our wonderful NAC team,” she said Tuesday in a release.

Originally from Quebec’s Eastern Townships, the 52-year-old is billed as the first francophone woman to lead the Ottawa-based organization, which presents, creates, produces, and co-produces programming in orchestra, dance, theatre, popular music and variety shows.

Before coming to the NAC, Cloutier was a spokesperson to three Governors General during a nine-year tenure at Rideau Hall, where she also played a key role in state visits, royal tours and national honours ceremonies.

Earlier in her career, she worked in arts and culture advocacy for francophone minority communities and the film and television industry.

NAC says Cloutier is a trained lawyer, studied piano and violin at a young age, completed graduate studies in communications, and has a certificate in public leadership from Harvard Kennedy School.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2025.

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press