Olivier and Tony-winning stage and film production house Sonia Friedman Productions has named Kash Bennett its new executive director, with her work to begin in September. Bennett will succeed Diane Benjamin, who is preparing to step away from the group following a 25-year tenure. Benjamin will exit the role in January 2026 and continue as a consultant.

Bennett is currently serving as executive producer at London's National Theatre, and is also currently president of the Society of London Theatres. SFP is describing Bennett's appointment as the "start of a major restructure."

“It’s impossible to sum up what Diane Benjamin has meant to me and to Sonia Friedman Productions over the past 25 years," says Friedman in a statement. "She is a true one-off—the very best in the business when it comes to overseeing a large, international producing theatre company. When she joined, there were just three of us; today, we produce and co-produce 10, 15, sometimes 20 shows a year around the world and our work employs thousands of people annually and is seen by many millions. That transformation is in no small part thanks to Diane’s brilliance, her courage, her unshakable integrity, her loyalty, and her fierce commitment to doing things properly.

“She is a leader, a mentor, a friend—known for her great kindness, her generosity of spirit, and her fierce dedication. She is utterly irreplaceable, and I honestly can’t imagine this company without her. But change is inevitable. Happily, she won’t be disappearing entirely—she’ll remain close and continue to advise us as a consultant—but this marks the end of an extraordinary era. I will miss her more than I can say.

“We are very privileged to have the indefatigable Kash Bennett join SFP, taking up the role of executive director from the end of next month. Her incredible track record speaks for itself, and as we evolve to the next phase in our company’s life, her brilliance, passion, unique experience, and tenacity will prove both an essential and inspirational addition to our team."

“2026 marks 25 years of working with Sonia Friedman and SFP, during which time it has been the honor of my career to have been part of some of the most ground-breaking, inspirational, and extraordinary productions worldwide," says Benjamin. "From Boeing-Boeing to The Nether and Jerusalem, from The Book of Mormon to Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, it has been a joy to work alongside the best in the industry, to work side by side with Sonia and the entire amazing team at SFP. They are the most caring, dedicated, and passionate group of people I could have had the good fortune to work with. I look forward to continuing my relationship with SFP and the wider industry, as I move to the next stage in my career.”

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Sonia Friedman Productions," adds Bennett. "SFP’s reputation for bold, brilliant, world-class theatre is second to none, and I’m thrilled to be working alongside such an extraordinary team. It’s no secret that I have long admired Sonia—she is an exceptional producer with exquisite taste—and I can’t wait to collaborate with her to bring groundbreaking stories to the stage and share them with audiences around the world.”