The Natural History Museum's new Chair is the former BBC Director General Tony Hall.
Lord Hall (or Lord Hall of Birkenhead CBE to give him his full title) takes up the position leading the museum's Trustee board immediately. It follows the resignation of Sir Patrick Vallance who quit to join the new Labour government as a minister for science.
Tony Hall was the top dog at the BBC for seven years, stepping down in 2020. At the time, he was immediately named as Chair of the National Gallery, but his tenure lasted little over a year.
In May 2021 he resigned in the wake of an investigation over his role in the BBC's Panorama interview with Princess Diana in 1995. The report was hugely critical of Hall — then the BBC’s head of news and current affairs — for overseeing a flawed and “woefully ineffective” internal investigation into how journalist Martin Bashir obtained the interview with the Princess.
Lord Hall said at the time his continued presence at the National Gallery would be a “distraction”.
He now takes over the Trustee board at the Natural History Museum in London, having only joined it in November 2023.
Lord Hall said of his appointment “For me, the Natural History Museum is one of the great Museums of the world. I love the fact that it’s always full of young children excited and inspired by what they see. But at the same time, it is the home of great and globally important scientific research. I’m excited and honoured to be asked to serve as Chair.”
Over a long career, Hall has also served as Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House from 2001 to 2013, and has been President of the European Broadcast Union and chaired the Cultural Olympiad that accompanied London's hosting of the Olympic Games in 2012. He's been a Trustee of the National Trust since 2022. He was made a life peer in 2010 and sits as crossbencher.
Dr Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum said Hall's "unparalleled experience at the helm of high-profile organisations defined by their public purpose makes him the ideal person to lead our Board of Trustees."
Gurr also thanked outgoing Chair Sir Patrick Vallance. "We congratulate him on this prestigious and well-deserved appointment. We are so proud to be associated with a leader of his stature and scientific credentials and look forward to continuing our relationship with him in the future” he said.
In 2023, the Natural History Museum was the UK's second most-visited attraction in the UK, welcoming 5.7 million people.
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