The 50-year-old Gillespie, who came on board as CEO in 2002, had announced in May that he would step down when his contract expires at the end of September. The Herald indicated at that time that the Opera House Board of Trustees declined to renew his contract.
An interim replacement for Gillespie will be appointed while the Opera House Board concludes its search for a permanent chief executive. There is now a shortlist of about five candidates for the position, according to the Herald.