The chief executive of the children’s performing arts charity Starcatchers is to step down from her role after almost 19 years at the organisation.

Rhona Matheson joined the Edinburgh-based charity in 2006 as a project manager before being promoted to a director role in 2011 and then chief executive in 2015.

Starcatchers has promoted Jennifer Phillips, head of artist development, and Heather Armstrong, head of early years development, to co-CEO roles.

Matheson, who will step down from the top job in May, will remain at the charity in a strategic role and said she would support the chief executives as the charity moves to a new model of leadership.

She will also work with the equity catalyst Elevate Great as a strategic lead for participation.

Matheson will support arts organisations from Catalonia, the Netherlands and France to evaluate a new early years creative Europe project and hopes to undertake a PhD that will focus on babies’ rights in Scotland.

“I always knew there would be a time to hand over the reins and I’m delighted that, as I move into a new phase of my career, the stewardship of this special organisation will be tended by two incredible professionals and colleagues,” said Matheson.

She said Armstrong and Phillips’ “combined expertise, alongside the power of the Starcatchers team, will be a force to be reckoned with”. 

In a joint statement, the new co-CEOs said they were looking to push the boundaries of what the arts could do for the very youngest children.

“We look forward to carrying on the incredible legacy created by Rhona and guiding the company into its next chapter,” the statement said.