TUCSON AND PHOENIX, ARIZ.: Arizona Theatre Company has named Billy Russo its new managing director. He’s been serving as the acting managing director since 2015. He will join the theatre’s new artistic director David Ivers, who is starting July 1.

“Billy not only brings an incredible depth of theatre company and artistic management experience to ATC, he already knows the Arizona cultural landscape and community and has a first-hand understanding of Arizona Theatre Company,” said Lynne Wood Dusenberry, chair of the ATC Board of Trustees, in a statement. “He doesn’t need to hit the ground running because he’s already covered so much ground. We head into our next half century extremely confident and excited about the future of Arizona Theatre Company, buoyed by a highly experienced and motivated management team, a tremendously dedicated staff and committed board, and a solid financial base.”

Since 2015, Russo helped ATC navigate through a series of financial challenges in 2016, and helped plan the theatre’s 2016-17 season, which will close with six-figure operating surplus, and a 25 percent increase in contributed income.

Prior to coming to ATC, Russo was the managing director of American Repertory Theatre, managing director of New York Theatre Workshop, and general manager of Playwrights Horizons. While he was at ART, the company saw a 50 percent increase in contributed income.

Arizona Theatre Company operates out of  the historic Temple of Music and Art in Tucson, and the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix.