Halle director to step down

A suspended director of the cash-strapped Halle Orchestra is to quit his job, it was announced yesterday.

Deputy chief executive John Whibley, 53, was suspended on full pay in February alongside finance director John Whittaker who left "by mutual agreement" a month later. The Manchester-based Halle Concerts Society faced bankruptcy in February with debts of pounds 1.1m which accountants blamed on poor financial management.