Category: Business

Brazil Tops France in Deaths; U.K. Scientists Wary: Virus Update

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Brazil has the world’s fourth-highest death toll, overtaking France, as the outbreak spreads in Latin America’s biggest economy. U.S. cases rose faster than the one-week daily average.

New York’s subway will be ready when the city reopens June 8, although some commuters may be reluctant to ride. The U.K.’s scientific advisers urged caution in the pace of lifting the lockdown.

Siemens Healthineers got U.S. emergency authorization for an antibody test. India will let malls, restaurants and places of worship open, even as cases surge.

Key Developments:

  • Virus Tracker: Cases top 6 million; deaths over 367,000
  • Indonesia to open malls, entertainment sites as cases rise
  • China factories are humming but not everyone is buying
  • Chinese vaccine expected to begin mass output soon
  • India to exit lockdown in phases as infections surge
  • MTA hasn’t shared a subway plan as NYC prepares to reopen
  • South Korea’s baseball plays through outbreak

Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click VRUS on the terminal for news and data on the coronavirus. For a look back at this week’s top stories from QuickTake, click here.

Venezuela to Ease Lockdown (7:45 a.m. HK)

Venezuela will start easing a national quarantine on Monday, President Nicolas Maduro said at the presidential palace. The plan contemplates multiple cycles of five days during which selected businesses are reopened followed by 10 days of quarantine, Maduro said.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said banking, medical and construction sectors would be included for the relaxed restrictions. But Maduro said the country’s border municipalities will be exempt from the plan.

Maduro reported 89 new cases on Saturday, for a total of 1,459.

U.K. Scientists Urge Cautious Opening (7:15 a.m. HK)

The U.K. government came under pressure from its own scientific advisers to show caution in easing the pace in lifting the lockdown, and from senior scientists and academics concerned about the public’s wellbeing.

Speaking at the daily briefing, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam said the easing must go “painstakingly” slowly.

John Edmunds and Jeremy Farrar, members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, told Sky News that an “untested” system to track and trace the virus exacerbated the risk of wider contagion. A group of more than 20 scientists and senior academics wrote to the Observer newspaper, flagging similar concerns and noting that the medical needs of those with other diseases are being neglected.

Brazil Passes France to Rank Fourth in Deaths (6:40 a.m. HK)

Brazil reported a 3.4% rise in new deaths on Saturday, to 28,834. It surpassed France and now has the fourth-most fatalities worldwide. The Latin American nation’s toll trails the U.S., U.K. and Italy. France has 28,774 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins data.

New cases increased 7.2% to 498,440, trailing only the U.S.

Argentina Plans More Aid to Families (6:30 a.m. NY)

Argentina will issue another round of emergency relief payments to help the most vulnerable families affected by the pandemic, according to an Economy Ministry statement. The government will issue another 10,000 pesos ($145 at the official exchange rate) per family. More than two-thirds of the funds will be directed to the bottom half of country’s wage earners.

NYC Subway to Be Ready: Cuomo (6 a.m. HK)

The New York subway system will be prepared when the city reopens on June 8, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, although transit officials have yet to provide detailed plans to reduce risks to public health.

“They’re disinfecting trains like never before but they have another week of work to do and they will be ready,” he told reporters Saturday. Mayor Bill de Blasio was less sure on Friday, saying the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that oversees subways and buses hasn’t provided enough information.

City officials expect 200,000 to 400,000 workers back in construction, manufacturing, wholesale and curbside retail jobs when reopening begins. Subway service will increase from reduced runs forced by a 90% drop in ridership and the quarantine of 9,000 workers. City and transit officials, and some employers, say they expect and want workers to avoid the subway.

U.S. Cases Rise 1.7%, Above Week’s Average (4 p.m. NY)

U.S. cases increased 1.7% from the same time Friday, to 1.76 million, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. The national increase exceeded the average daily increase of 1.3% for the past week and was the biggest percentage rise since May 22. Deaths climbed 1.2% to 103,389.

  • New York reported 1,376 new cases, for a total of 369,660, with 67 deaths — the same as Friday and the fifth day of fatalities under 75. Deaths totaled 23,848.
  • New Jersey had 910 new cases, pushing the total to 159,608, with 113 new deaths for a total of 11,634, Governor Phil Murphy reported.
  • California reported 2,992 new cases, for a total of 106,878, and added 88 deaths, with the fatality count at 4,156.
  • Pennsylvania reported 680 new cases, for a total of 71,415, and 73 new deaths, to total 5,537, the state health department said.
  • Florida’s cases rose 1.7% to 55,424 and deaths rose to 2,447, the health department said.

Greece Allows More Flights from Mid-June (3:30 p.m. NY)

Greece will allow visitors from more nations, including the U.S. and U.K., to arrive at Athens and Thessaloniki airports starting June 15, the Foreign Ministry said. After July 1, flights can land at all Greek airports.

The government will use the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s list of airports to determine testing for arriving passengers. If travel originates at an airport not on the affected-area list, then visitors are subject to random tests, the Foreign Ministry said. If the journey begins at an airport on the EASA list, then visitors who test negative will self-quarantine for seven days and if positive will be under supervised quarantine for 14 days.

Greece will reopen borders with Albania, Bulgaria and North Macedonia on June 15, the Foreign Ministry said with visitors subject to random tests. Arrivals by sea will begin July 1.

French Cases Inch Higher (2:10 p.m. NY)

France reported 57 new deaths, raising the total to 28,771, based on hospital data, with reporting of nursing-home fatalities delayed to Tuesday. New cases climbed by 1,828, or 0.8%, to 225,898.

FDA Authorizes Siemens Antibody Test (2:10 p.m. NY)

Siemens Healthineers AG received U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization for a coronavirus antibody test, used to identify recent or prior infection in humans. The company had expected the test to be available by late May and aims to produce more than 50 million tests a month starting in June.

N.Y. Targets NYC ‘Hotspots’ (2 p.m. NY)

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state plans to get New York City reopened by focusing on “hotspots” — neighborhoods where positive cases can be nearly 50% and are largely in minority communities. The city average rate is about 20%.

“We have work to do but we’ll still get it done by June 8,” he said.

Cuomo also signed a law to compensate the families of hundreds of essential workers who have died in the outbreak.

Italy Cases on Declining Trend (12:01 pm NY)

Italy reported 416 new cases, up from 516 a day earlier, confirming a declining trend as the total reached 232,664. Total deaths rose to 33,340. The government confirmed plans to allow travel between regions starting June 3 even as some regional governors opposed letting people from the hard-hit Lombardy region move freely.

N.Y. Daily Deaths Unchanged (11:45 a.m. NY)

New York reported 67 new deaths, Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a Saturday press conference. The figure is the same as reported on Friday and the fifth straight day below 75 fatalities. The state reported 1,376 new cases, for a total of 369,660.

U.K. Permits Live Sports Events (11:30 a.m. NY)

The U.K. will allow live sports events, without spectators, and further relax restrictions on physical exercise starting Monday as the country eases lockdown measures.

Horse racing will be allowed behind closed doors, with other sports like soccer, rugby, cricket, golf and snooker to follow, but without fans, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said at a press conference. “British sports recovery has begun,” Dowden said.

England’s Premier League plans to resume matches on June 17, after consulting with the clubs, players and managers, Chief Executive Richard Masters said after the government announcement.

Spain Deaths Rise (11:25 a.m. NY)

The Spanish health ministry said total coronavirus cases increased by 271 to 239,228 in the past 24 hours. Total fatalities rose to 27,125 with 43 new deaths reported in the past seven days.

India to Ease Lockdown in Stages (8:52 a.m. NY)

India announced a phased lifting of the nationwide lockdown by allowing malls, restaurants and places of worship to open from June 8, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The country, which had enforced sweeping and strict stay-at-home orders from March 25, will limit the stringent rules to areas that have a large number of active cases. Authorities will decide to open schools and colleges in July, while international air travel will resume in the final phase. The exit plan comes even as India has been unable to flatten its curve despite the restrictions which have left its already troubled economy in deep disrepair.

EU Urges U.S. to Reconsider WHO Decision (8:24 a.m. NY)

The European Union called on the U.S. to reconsider its decision to terminate its relationship with the World Health Organization, which President Donald Trump has accused of being too deferential to China.

“Global cooperation and solidarity through multilateral efforts are the only effective and viable avenues to win this battle the world is facing,” according to a joint statement Saturday from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the bloc’s chief foreign envoy, Josep Borrell. “We urge the U.S. to reconsider its announced decision.”

— With assistance by Steve Geimann, Paul Tugwell, Alessandra Migliaccio, Richard Bravo, Farah Elbahrawy, and Joao Lima

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Trump Walks Back His Incendiary Minneapolis ‘Thugs’ Post

Washington (AP) — President Donald Trump has tried to walk back his post-midnight “thugs” tweet about Minneapolis protesters that added to outrage over the police killing of a black man.

Trump’s repeated condemnation of the killing and outreach to the man’s family was a marked change in tone from his earlier comments that also invoked a civil-rights-era phrase fraught with racist overtones.

“When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” Trump had written in a tweet that was quickly flagged by Twitter as violating rules against “glorifying violence.” Trump later said his comments had been misconstrued. “Frankly it means when there’s looting, people get shot and they die,” he said.

Trump’s explanation did little to satisfy hundreds of protesters who gathered outside the White House into early Saturday, shouting “No justice, no peace” as well as an obscene chant directed at the president.

Trump’s whiplash comments came after protesters torched a Minneapolis police station on Thursday night, following three days of searing demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, who was captured on video pleading for air as a white police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes.

And they underscored Trump’s complicated relationship with race as he tries to maintain a law-and-order mantle while looking to appeal to black voters during an election year. They also highlighted his refusal to avoid controversy or cede the spotlight even as the battered nation tries to make sense of another killing and reels over the mounting COVID-19 death toll.

Trump, in his tweets, borrowed a phrase once used by former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley in a 1967 speech outlining his department’s efforts to “combat young hoodlums who have taken advantage of the civil rights campaign.” In the speech, Headley said his department had been successful “because I’ve let the word filter down that when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

“We don’t mind being accused of police brutality,” he said in the same speech, according to news reports from the time.

Trump, after hours of backlash, said Friday evening that he was unaware of the origins of the phrase. “But I’ve heard it for a long time, as most people have. And frankly it means when there’s looting, people get shot and they die,” he said.

Trump also revealed that he had been in touch with Floyd’s family as he continued to denounce the circumstances of the man’s killing, which he called “a terrible insult to police and to policemen.”

“I just expressed my sorrow,” Trump told reporters. “He was in tremendous pain, obviously, and couldn’t breathe. And it was very obvious to anybody that watched it.”

Still, Trump called on protesters to keep their demonstrations peaceful.

“The family of George is entitled to justice, and the people of Minnesota are entitled to live in safety,” he said. “Law and order will prevail.”

Criticism of the Trump’s tweet had been swift, with his presumptive Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden saying it was “no time for incendiary tweets, no time to incite violence.”

“It’s not helpful,” said Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. “Anything we do to add fuel to that fire is really, really challenging.”

Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., said that, as the country passed the grim milestone of more than 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, Trump had missed a chance to help the public cope with “two viruses: One is the coronavirus and the other is the virus of racial animus.”

Trump has been accused of stoking racial tensions and exploiting divisions for personal gain since long before he ran for president, beginning with the full-page ads he ran in 1989 calling for the death penalty for the Central Park Five, five young men of color who were wrongly convicted of assaulting a white jogger.

Trump — who rarely holds his tongue — has been silent in the face of a long list of high-profile killings by police of black men, including Eric Garner, who was placed in a chokehold and whose dying words, “I can’t breathe,” became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. (Trump has instead invoked those words on several occasions to mock political rivals, even bringing his hands to his neck for dramatic effect.)

He spent years railing against NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other players for kneeling during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. And in one speech he appeared to advocate rougher treatment of people in custody, speaking dismissively of the police practice of shielding the heads of handcuffed suspects as they are being placed in patrol cars.

At the same time, Trump and his campaign have tried to make inroads with black Americans, particularly after Biden suggested last week that black voters who support Trump “ain’t black.” A bedrock of the Democratic base, black Americans are unlikely to embrace Trump en masse, but his campaign believes even a marginal shift could make a difference — and send a message to white voters uneasy about the president’s charged rhetoric.

Meanwhile, the unrest complicates the Trump campaign’s plans for Minnesota, one of the key swing states he hopes to win in November.

Twitter’s decision to flag Trump’s tweet — the second time it has acted this week — came a day after he signed an executive order challenging the social media giant’s protections against lawsuits as he accuses it of stifling conservative voices. The warning label prevented the tweet from being shared or liked, though it could still be viewed by users. The White House, trying to skirt the blockage, reposted the message on its own official Twitter account Friday morning. Twitter quickly flagged that tweet, too, accusing the White House of promoting violence.

Supporters of the president balked at the move.

Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale accused the media, Biden and other Democrats of “purposefully misrepresenting what the President had said, and showing once again that they are incapable of resisting their base impulse of dividing Americans, solely for the purpose of political gain, ratings, and cable news profit.”

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Here's the team leading Disney through the post-coronavirus world

Disney World proposes phased reopening starting July 11

FOX Business’ Kristina Partsinevelos says Disney plans to reopen its Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios theme parks on July 11 and July 15 with various preventative measures in place.

As the Walt Disney Company prepares to enter a new era post-coronavirus, Executive Chairman Bob Iger has reportedly reasserted control, at least temporarily.

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Iger, who announced he was stepping back from the role of CEO in late February, ceded that position to Bob Chapek, who headed the parks division.

Here's everything you need to know about the current management behind the Happiest and Most Magical places on Earth:

Bob Iger, Executive Chairman

Walt Disney Company Chairman Bob Iger arrives for the World Premiere of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in December 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Iger will retain his role as executive chairman, which includes oversight of all creative businesses, through the end of his contract in December 2021.

He was previously CEO for nearly 15 years, taking the role in October 2005, and led the acquisitions of Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012) and 21st Century Fox (2019) as well as the landmark 2016 opening of Shanghai Disney Resort and the launch of the company's streaming service, Disney+, in November 2019.

It garnered more than 50 million subscribers in just five months.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DIS WALT DISNEY COMPANY 117.30 +0.55 +0.47%

DISNEYLAND GIVES GLIMPSE INTO ITS POST-CORONAVIRUS REOPENING PLANS

Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer

Bob Chapek. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Chapek reports to Iger and the company's board.

Prior to being named the seventh CEO in Disney's 91-year history, he led Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, which was established in 2018, and was chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since 2015.

His portfolio included Disney’s six resorts in the U.S., Europe and Asia as well as the Disney Cruise Line's four ships. Chapek was instrumental in the opening of Shanghai Disney – one of the largest investments in the company's resort business.

DISNEY WORLD SETS JULY 11 REOPENING DATE, UNVEILS CORONAVIRUS SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Christine McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Walt Disney Co. Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy (Photo via the Walt Disney Company)

McCarthy, who became finance chief in July 2015, is also responsible for brand and franchise management, corporate alliances, real estate, labor standards and other areas.

She was previously executive vice president of corporate real estate.

DISNEY STORES TO REQUIRE CORONAVIRUS FACE MASKS FOR GUESTS AGE 3 AND OLDER

Alan Horn, Walt Disney Studios Co-Chairman and Chief Creative Officer

Disney Studios Chief Creative Officer Alan Horn. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

As co-chairman and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Studios, Alan Horn is responsible for the unit's strategy and global operations. That includes overseeing production, marketing and distribution.

Horn has led the unit since 2012, guiding it through acquisitions such as Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm.

Prior to joining Disney, he served as chief operating officer of rival Warner Bros., leading the studio’s theatrical and home entertainment operations.

DISNEY SPRINGS ADDS CORONAVIRUS SOCIAL DISTANCING TEAM TO PROTECT GUESTS, CAST MEMBERS

Alan Bergman, Walt Disney Studios Co-Chairman

Alan Bergman, Walt Disney Studios co-chairman (Photo via the Walt Disney Company)

Along with Horn, Bergman is responsible for The Walt Disney Studios' production, marketing, and worldwide distribution.

He was previously president of The Walt Disney Studios from 2005 to 2019 and before that, its chief financial officer.

DISNEY WORLD, UNION REACH CORONAVIRUS PROTECTIONS DEAL: REPORT

Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products

Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (Photo: Business Wire)

D’Amaro oversees six theme park-resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia as well as four Disney Cruise Line ships. He's in charge of consumer operations including the Disney Store and shopDisney, which sell toys, apparel, home goods, digital games and apps.

D'Amaro previously led Walt Disney World, which includes four theme parks, two water parks, 28 resort hotels, four golf courses and an extensive multi-modal transportation system of buses, boats and monorail service.

He oversaw the beginning of Walt Disney World's most significant expansion in the last two decades, including the opening of the Disney Skyliner aerial transportation system and the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction.

DISNEY MAKES 'HAMILTON' MOVIE STREAMABLE IN JULY, MORE THAN A YEAR EARLY

Rebecca Campbell, Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer and International

Rebecca Campbell, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International (Photo: Business Wire)

Campbell leads the company’s global streaming businesses including Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu and Hotstar. The role was previously held by Kevin Mayer, who left the company to become CEO of TikTok. 

Before taking her current position, Campbell was president of Disneyland Resort, where she oversaw Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, three resort hotels and entertainment, retail and dining complex Downtown Disney.

SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND REOPENS WITH ANTI-CORONAVIRUS CONTROLS

James Pitaro, President of ESPN and Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks

James Pitaro (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Pitaro serves as ESPN president and co-chair of Disney Media Networks, where he oversees the networks’ portfolio of multimedia sports assets, a role he assumed in March 2018.

He was previously chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, where he oversaw the creation of branded digital and physical products, including toys, apparel and home goods.

Pitaro originally joined The Walt Disney Company in 2010 as co-president of Disney Interactive, where he led the transformation of Disney's digital media and gaming division.

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Peter Rice, Walt Disney Television Chairman and Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks

Peter Rice (Photo via the Walt Disney Company)

Peter Rice is chairman of Walt Disney Television and co-chair of Disney Media Networks, where he oversees new and entertainment properties including the ABC network, the Disney Channel networks, Freeform and Fox 21 Television Studios.

Rice was previously president of 21st Century Fox and chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group.

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More Grocery Chains Are Ending Hazard Pay Even As The Pandemic Continues

Jeffrey Reid has been earning a 10% premium on his wages working in a grocery store’s meat department in Silver Spring, Maryland, during the coronavirus pandemic. But Reid’s employer, Giant Food, plans to phase out that additional pay at the end of this week.

Reid called it “absolutely absurd” for him and others to return to his normal pay rate just as the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 100,000.

“We don’t have a vaccine. They still don’t know how to treat this thing. We’ve still got a bunch of people walking around asymptomatic,” said Reid, 55. “So why are you ending this hazard pay? We’re still working under hazardous conditions.”

He added, “Last I checked, people are still dying.”

As June approaches, more retailers are ending the temporary pay boosts they offered workers to compensate for the unique dangers posed by the pandemic. Stipends set to expire include a $2-per-hour increase at Amazon and its subsidiary, Whole Foods, a spokesperson for the grocer confirmed Friday.

Giant said in a statement that while it would be eliminating the hazard pay as of Saturday, the chain would offer a one-time bonus of $400 for full-timers and $200 for part-timers as a show of gratitude, to be paid on July 1. “As this is changing and we anticipate our shoppers will return to their new normal, we are now transitioning to our new normal,” a spokesperson for Giant said.

The Kroger grocery chain recently made a similar move, providing bonuses when it canceled a $2-per-hour increase it had been paying during the pandemic.

A spokesperson for Albertsons Companies Inc., which owns several grocery chains, told HuffPost Friday it would be extending its $2-per-hour bonus through June 13. Its grocers include Albertsons, Vons, Safeway and Jewel-Osco.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents workers at Giant (as well as those at some other grocery chains), maintains that workers deserve extra pay for all hours worked as long as the coronavirus remains a threat. Reid’s union, UFCW Local 400, has launched a petition aimed at keeping the hourly increases in place.

“So long as there is a hazard, there should be hazard pay. And the hazard is still very real right now,” the union said.

The pandemic has made work vastly more dangerous for many employed by businesses deemed essential. From hospitals to meatpacking plants to grocery stores, many workers around the country have been frustrated by a lack of hazard pay or the loss of temporary but modest increases. 

Many of the pay boosts that workers have received came after employees and groups like the UFCW put public pressure on companies to provide something extra. Many employers have been reluctant to call the premiums “hazard pay,” a term that would acknowledge the dangers workers are facing. Kroger, for instance, dubbed it “hero pay,” and Giant coined the term “appreciation pay.”

No federal law requires private-sector employers to provide workers with hazard pay under any circumstances. Democrats in Congress, along with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, have discussed proposing a federally funded hazard pay program to put additional money in the pockets of nurses, bus drivers, retail cashiers and others who’ve been working through the pandemic. 

The Democratic plan would provide an extra $13 per hour for most hours worked in 2020, to be capped at $25,000 for most workers. Romney’s plan would provide an additional $12 per hour, but for a much shorter window. Neither plan has gained much GOP support, even though Republicans got on board with giving unemployed workers an extra $600 per week from the federal government.

Some meatpacking plants have offered modest bonuses contingent on perfect attendance during a week, even though many of the workforces have been devastated by the virus, with more than 40 workers dead and thousands believed to be infected, according to the UFCW.

The lack of any federal plan has also led to pay disparities within industries, and even within companies. While Giant is ending its additional pay, the chain Stop & Shop has said it will extend its 10% pay increase through the July 4 holiday. Like Giant, Stop & Shop is a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based multinational Ahold Delhaize. 

Reid, the Giant employee in Maryland, said the extra pay has not been sufficient for the dangers stemming from the pandemic, but that it has been meaningful.

“It’s a small token of appreciation. At least the company is recognizing the hazardous conditions we’re working under,” he said. “But under no stretch of the imagination is that enough. Especially if you take into account that the sales have been through the roof in these stores.” 

Reid said the pandemic has made grocery work not only more dangerous but more difficult. Employees are having to remind shoppers of the rules on mask-wearing and social-distancing inside stores. Surfaces must constantly be cleaned. Workers wear hot masks throughout the day. And shortages of certain products like toilet paper and hand sanitizer continue to upset customers. 

The time will come for the temporary hazard pay to end, Reid said ― but the time is definitely not now.

“This is a real-life health crisis,” he said. “By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods on this thing.”

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Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Longtime Artistic Director Jane Moss Steps Down As Live Shows On Pause

Jane Moss, the artistic director at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for nearly 30 years, will step down from the post effective August 1.

Moss said the timing of her departure was influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in the suspension of live programming throughout the city. No announcement was made about her replacement.

“I had begun to consider moving into a new chapter of my life prior to the pandemic,” Moss said in a statement. “But the multi-year/multi-track cycle of programming never allowed time for a responsible departure and smooth transition. Now that our current situation has put a pause on live programming, I feel I can step down.”

Moss added that the decision to step down was “full of sadness,” but that she remains “eager to make a new kind of contribution to the life and well-being of New York as we face very challenging times ahead.”

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Since taking the job in 1992, Moss has overseen Lincoln Center’s signature programming including the Great Performers series and the Mostly Mozart Festival, as well as the free public programs such as Midsummer Night Swing and Lincoln Center Out of Doors. She designed and initiated the center’s White Light Festival, American Songbook, New Visions, and the Lincoln Center Festival.

Henry Timms, President and CEO of Lincoln Center, said that Moss’ contribution to the center “is not only impressive in its breadth and scale – with over 300 premieres and 100 commissions under her leadership – but impactful in its substance and ability to build bridges between cultures from around the globe.”

“Jane’s legacy,” he continued, “will be felt here at Lincoln Center and beyond well into the future.”

Prior to joining Lincoln Center, Moss worked as an arts consultant, designing and developing projects and programming initiatives for a variety of foundations and arts organizations, including the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Among other positions, she served as executive director of New York’s leading Off-Broadway theater company, Playwrights Horizons, and executive director of the Alliance of Resident Theaters/New York.

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