The director of the £50m Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead has said he is sorry that his management style has upset some staff.

Peter Doroshenko, an American who became Baltic's director two years ago, said yesterday he and his directors were fully committed to working with staff and the board of trustees "to create the necessary behaviour, structures and processes required to overcome current difficulties". Baltic's staff, he said, were passionate and talented. "There are obviously a number of individuals that are upset at my management style, and for that I am sorry," he said.