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Ballet West executive director Scott Altman, recently named CEO of the year by Utah Business magazine, is moving on to take the same position at Cincinnati Ballet.

Ballet West will be led by Adam Sklute, who will continue as artistic director and take on expanded duties of CEO. The change was announced Thursday, with Altman's departure set for Sept. 30.

"My head is spinning a little bit," said Sklute, who added he would only be able to take on expanded duties because of the strength of the company's management team.

Sklute's expanded duties are a one-year appointment, coinciding with the promotions of Michael Andrew Currey, operations director, to general manager, and Ken Dodson, vice president of finance, to chief operating officer. All three managers will report directly to the company's board of directors.

Working with Altman was a pleasure, because he was "someone who dreamed as I did, who had the sort of audacious ideas as I did," Sklute said.

Altman, the former general director of Arizona Opera, was hired by Ballet West in 2013. Under his leadership, the company saw the completion of the long-dreamed-of Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre, as well as a 21 percent growth in ticket sales, the company's expanded touring schedule and the expansion of Ballet West Academy.

Altman also led a "Million Dollar Challenge" campaign, which eliminated $2.2 million in the company's operational debt.

"My three years with Ballet West have been some of the best years of my professional life," Altman said in a statement, praising his colleagues and the company's board. "I am very proud of the tremendous growth, accomplishments and prominence that the organization has achieved during my time here. I am confident that it remains strategically positioned for sustainable growth in the years ahead."

Brian Powell, Ballet West's board chairman, thanked Altman for his leadership in guiding the company "through exciting and challenging times."

"Ballet West is on strong financial footing with a talented and capable staff at all levels," Powell said. "We have enormous respect for what Adam has built at Ballet West and with the world-class team that he and Scott have put together. We are confident and excited for the future of the organization."