Opera Australia artistic director Jo Davies quits nine months into the job due to ‘differences of opinion’

Jo Davies has quit as Opera Australia artistic director after nine months in a ‘mutual’ decision. Photograph: Kirstie Young

Unresolvable conflict between Opera Australia’s executive management and the company’s artistic director, Jo Davies, has resulted in her departure just nine months into the job.

Although the announcement of Davies’ departure appeared out of the blue on Friday, sources within the company told Guardian Australia that the personal conflict between Davies and OA’s chief executive, Fiona Allan, resulted in a third party being called in to mediate between the two earlier this year.