The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society has confirmed the appointment of Jernice Easthope, Tom Lewis, and David Lloyd to its Board of Trustees. All either live in or were born in Liverpool, and bring expertise from the entertainment, financial, and music industries to advise and support Liverpool Philharmonic during the coming years.

The new members will be replacing Vanessa Bakewell and Angela Bellingham, who have stepped down after serving on the board for six years and Claire Jackson who stepped down earlier in the year after four and a half years. Liverpool Philharmonic is grateful to Vanessa, Angela and Claire for their dedication during this time, a period which included the very challenging years of the pandemic.

Born and raised in Liverpool, Jernice Easthope graduated from John Moores University with a degree in Media before embarking on a career in the entertainment industry, where she has filmed and produced for companies such as BBC, ITV, H5, Discovery, and NBC, and worked on TV shows such as Britain’s Got Talent, Dragon’s Den, and The X Factor. Now an award-winning Documentary Producer of Routes Jukebox, a creator of Black Girls Brunch, and the founder of Business 0483, Jernice’s creative aim is to highlight conversations, development, and the importance of Black talent and excellence. Prior to working in the entertainment industry, Jernice worked as a youth worker, where she joined Urbeatz, a movement run by Black creatives in Liverpool that created platforms for digital arts, visual arts, events, conversation, documentaries, magazines, and music.

On her appointment, Jernice said: “I am delighted to be joining the Board of Liverpool Philharmonic. I love what I do and recognise I am very fortunate to wake up every day and enjoy what I do for a living. As a Black female in this profession, it is not easy to navigate and progress in an environment that is not designed for us—that is the added challenge I continue to tackle. I am looking forward to using my experience to help continue the fantastic work that they do as an organisation”

Tom Lewis is Co-President of Decca Records, part of Universal Music Group. Born in Liverpool and raised in Lancashire, Tom has a longstanding personal and professional connection to Liverpool Philharmonic. From attending concerts as a schoolboy, he has now spent nearly 30 years successfully working in the record business, specializing in Classical and Jazz. Tom is a two-time winner of Music Business Worldwide’s A&R Award and has worked with some of the world’s most successful artists, including: Diana Ross, Robert Plant, Rod Stewart, Aurora, Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins, Ludovico Einaudi, Luciano Pavarotti, Max Richter, Víkingur Ólafsson, the Kanneh-Mason family, Lang Lang, amongst many others.

On his appointment, Tom said: "As a proud Liverpudlian with deep personal and professional ties to this incredible institution, I look forward to contributing to its legacy as a member of the Board. Liverpool Philharmonic has been a part of my life since childhood and over the past 30 years, I've had the privilege of working with some of the world's most iconic recording artists. Now, as a Board member, I’m excited to support its mission, help elevate its global reach and ensure it continues to inspire future generations through music."

David Lloyd is a financial adviser with some 40 years of professional experience in investment banking and as a corporate finance partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers and then Ernst & Young. David spent nearly two decades working with governments and investors across Central and Eastern Europe as they integrated into the rest of Europe following the fall of the Berlin Wall. He then spent nearly two decades helping governments and companies around the world with energy and utilities market reform, sector restructuring, and the transition to renewable, zero-carbon energy. David is currently a non-executive director of SmartestEnergy. He has a lifelong passion for classical music and a keen interest in wider forms of music performed live. David lives in Liverpool with his wife, where they own and maintain a property that forms part of Liverpool’s maritime heritage. They are active supporters of education and the arts in the city. David is a regular attendee at the Phil.

Speaking on his appointment, David said: “I am honoured to be appointed as a Trustee member of the board. I believe deeply in the ability of music to make us better people and to live in more open societies. I am delighted to be able to give something back to the city of Liverpool, which I have made my home.”