Ian White Thomson

Citing "personal reasons," Ian White-Thomson abruptly resigned as executive director of Los Angeles Opera in September 2001 -- five months shy of his three-year contract. Without going into detail, White-Thomson acknowledged later that his role as administrative and financial officer alongside artistic director (now general director) Placido Domingo had become "more pain than fun." Now White-Thomson finds himself back at the opera -- but on the other side of the table.

Citing "personal reasons," Ian White-Thomson abruptly resigned as executive director of Los Angeles Opera in September 2001 -- five months shy of his three-year contract. Without going into detail, White-Thomson acknowledged later that his role as administrative and financial officer alongside artistic director (now general director) Placido Domingo had become "more pain than fun." Now White-Thomson finds himself back at the opera -- but on the other side of the table.

Ian White-Thomson, executive director of Los Angeles Opera, has resigned effective Monday after 19 months in the post. Leonard I. Green, the company's board chairman and chief executive, will fill the role while the opera launches a search for a new executive director. White-Thomson, a former chairman and chief executive officer of U.S. Borax Inc. who was named to the opera post in February 2000, announced his resignation at a Sept. 6 board meeting and cited personal reasons.

Ian White-Thomson, executive director of Los Angeles Opera, has resigned effective Monday after 19 months in the post. Leonard I. Green, the company's board chairman and chief executive, will fill the role while the opera launches a search for a new executive director. White-Thomson, a former chairman and chief executive officer of U.S. Borax Inc. who was named to the opera post in February 2000, announced his resignation at a Sept. 6 board meeting and cited personal reasons.

Ian L. White-Thomson has been named president of United States Borax & Chemical Corp. White-Thomson previously served as group executive in charge of the affiliates Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corp. and Ottawa Silica Co., and was responsible for the merger of the two companies into U.S. Silica.

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In a move that underlines Placido Domingo's status as top dog at the Los Angeles Opera while drawing conductor Kent Nagano closer to the organization, opera officials Thursday unveiled a new set of job titles and contract extensions among their key creative and administrative personnel. The change dubs Domingo general director, a step up from the artistic director title the celebrated tenor has held since 2000.

Tenor Placido Domingo, who took over as artistic director of Los Angeles Opera July 1, has made his first fund-raising coup by snagging a donation to the opera company from billionaire money manager and noted arts philanthropist Alberto Vilar. Vilar, a longtime friend of Domingo's and thought to be the largest opera donor in the world today, will underwrite the company's September production of Verdi's "Aida," which opens Los Angeles Opera's 2000-2001 season. It is his first donation to the L.A.

The Performing Arts Center Plaza was transformed into Egypt's Valley of the Kings and Queens for the gala opening of the L.A. Opera's spectacular production of Verdi's "Aida" last Wednesday. The evening also marked Placido Domingo's debut as artistic director of the company, and Ian White-Thomson's first official duty as executive director.

* Ian L. White-Thomson, president and chief executive of U.S. Borax Inc., has been appointed chief executive of RTZ Borax & Minerals, the world's leading producer of borax and borate products, effective April 1. White-Thomson, 58, succeeds Gordon H. Sage, who will join the RTZ Corp. board and be chairman of RTZ Borax & Minerals. White-Thomson joined Borax in 1960 in London. He has held a variety of executive sales and marketing positions. U.S.