By Howard Pousner and Howard Pousner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta Ballet is tying up an important bit of business as it celebrates its 80th anniversary and is about to begin its 50th anniversary "Nutcracker" run at the Fox Theatre.

The dance company has announced that Arthur Jacobus, former leader of Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet, will be its new executive director. Jacobus most recently served as CEO and executive director of Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, founded by noted glass artist Dale Chihuly.

"Arthur is a premier individual in the dance world and has the vision to take Atlanta Ballet to whole new plateaus," artistic director John McFall said.

He assumes his new job in January, taking over from interim executive director Virginia Hepner, who has served since Barry Hughson departed to lead the Boston Ballet in May. Jacobus' first challenge: taking over the ballet's $14.8 million capital campaign, the largest fund-raiser in the organization's history. A total of $13.6 million already has been raised to help open the ballet's headquarters next summer and to shape the future of the longest continuously operating U.S. ballet company.