Ruth Mackenzie, previously general director of the Manchester International Festival, is to lead the 2012 London Olympics culture team. Appointed by the Cultural Olympiad Board and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, she'll start work straight away in her capacity as director of culture, reporting to Royal Opera House chief Tony Hall and the Cultural Olympiad Board.

Mackenzie's team are to be supported by four artistic advisors: former Edinburgh International Festival honcho Brian McMaster, Manchester International Festival director Alex Poots, English National Ballet managing director Craig Hassall, and theatre director Martin Duncan, who was formerly co artistic director, along with Mackenzie, of the Chichester Festival Theatre.

Mackenzie says: "Our first task will be to do an audit of the existing plans and make recommendations to the board on the vision and timetable for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. We aim to announce our initial plans in a few months time".