Peterborough Cathedral is pleased to announce the appointment of Jack Pishhorn as its new Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Jan Armitage, who is stepping down after guiding the Cathedral’s operations through a period of significant growth and challenge.
Jack joins Peterborough Cathedral from North Northamptonshire, where he is Head of Culture, Tourism and Heritage and responsible for the development of the award-winning Chester House Estate, a nationally recognised heritage, tourism and community destination. He brings extensive operational and strategic experience from across the heritage, culture and rural tourism sectors, including senior roles at Sacrewell Farm and Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park. Across these organisations, Jack has delivered major capital projects, driven substantial increases in visitor numbers and commercial income and led large multi-disciplinary teams through periods of change and growth.
The Cathedral continues to face serious financial pressures as it works to secure a sustainable future. It currently costs around £7,000 per day to keep the Cathedral open, while operating at an estimated daily deficit of approximately £1,400. Without significant intervention, the Cathedral is on track to record a loss of around £500,000 next year. Strategic change is therefore essential: new income streams, improved resilience and a more sustainable way of working are critical to safeguarding the Cathedral’s future. Jack’s appointment forms an important part of this transformation, to lead with renewed focus, creativity and commercial expertise to its operational and strategic leadership.
To support long-term sustainability, the Cathedral is also developing an ambitious new masterplan for the Precincts and its wider assets, designed to enhance the visitor experience, generate new revenue opportunities and secure the Cathedral’s place at the heart of the city for generations to come.
The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, welcomed the appointment:
“We are delighted to welcome Jack to the Cathedral at a time when his energy, experience and local knowledge will be invaluable. His leadership will help us build on the work that has already begun to strengthen our financial resilience, expand our visitor offer and support the Cathedral’s mission and ministry. I also want to pay warm tribute to Jan Armitage, who has served the Cathedral with great dedication, wisdom and calm professionalism. Her contribution to our recovery and development in recent years has been exceptional, and we are deeply grateful for all she has given.”
Jack Pishhorn said:
“Having been born and raised in Peterborough, I am incredibly proud to be taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer at Peterborough Cathedral. The Cathedral sits at the heart of our city’s identity and I’m excited to support and lead the fantastic team already in place as we grow, develop and continue delivering excellence in everything we do.
This is both a challenging and pivotal moment for the Cathedral. To secure a sustainable future, we must embrace a new way of working, one that is financially resilient, collaborative and ambitious in its vision. I see huge potential in what we can offer to our cathedral users, local residents and visitors and I hope to bring creativity, fresh ideas and plenty of enthusiasm to the role.
Working closely with partners across the city will be essential, particularly as we strengthen Peterborough’s visitor economy through initiatives such as Discover Peterborough and the developing Local Visitor Economy Partnership. Together, we can build on Peterborough Cathedral’s remarkable heritage and ensure it continues to inspire, serve and thrive for generations to come. I can’t wait to get started and I hope to make our city proud.”
Jack will officially take up his part-time post in January 2026, working closely with the Dean, Chapter and staff team to lead operational strategy, develop new income-generation opportunities and support initiatives that enhance Peterborough’s visitor economy and civic life.