The Board of Directors of New York City Opera has announced that Charles R. Wall was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board effective December 16, 2010. He succeeds Susan L. Baker, who will “step down” after seven years of “dedicated service.” 

Wall retired earlier this year as Wall Vice-Chairman and General Counsel of Philip Morris International Inc. As Chairman of the Board of NYCO, he has the opportunity of making opera seem as “addictive” as he has previously asserted cigarettes are not.