The Supervisory Board of ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) has appointed Anna van Nunen as the new General Manager. With this appointment, ESNS, the platform for emerging European music talent, gains a new director with extensive experience in the festival world and significant knowledge of innovation and sustainability. With Groningen roots and a profound passion for the cultural sector, Anna brings a wealth of expertise to her new role.
Her appointment is effective from March 18, 2023, succeeding Dago Houben, who announced his departure last June. Frans Vreeke temporarily filled the position in the interim.
Anna van Nunen is an experienced executive who places sustainable entrepreneurship at the core of her career. She founded Innofest, a platform where numerous sustainable enterprises can test their innovations at Dutch festivals. As the Commercial Director of Greener Power Solutions, a pioneer in clean mobile battery power at events, she was responsible for the startup’s growth into a European scale-up. She is also the founder of the lobbying platform ‘Ikd Lobby’ and actively participates as a keynote speaker, panellist, and moderator at events such as ESNS, Amsterdam Dance Event, and Dutch Design Week.
Having grown up frequenting Groningen’s pop venues Vera and Simplon, Anna has ESNS marked in her calendar every year. She eagerly anticipates her new role, stating: “Having grown up in Groningen and with a big heart for the music sector, it is a huge honour to start working as director at Eurosonic Noorderslag. I am eager to strengthen the conference and festival with the team. In the coming years, I want to ensure a future-proof organisation and a rock-solid positioning of ESNS in Europe.”
Jeroen van Erp, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ESNS, expresses delight at Anna van Nunen’s appointment: “ESNS is entering a new phase, one that requires new leadership. As a Supervisory Board, we are very pleased with the appointment of Anna van Nunen as director. With her background in the festival world, experience in sustainability and the start-up world, she embodies what we stand for: Always looking for new talent, new developments where inclusivity and sustainability are of paramount importance.”