Former V&A boss to help safeguard Scottish heritage

Art historian and museums leader SIR MARK JONES is to take on chairing the board of Scotland’s national public body for heritage this week.

The former director of the V&A Museum has been appointed to chair Historic Environment Scotland (HES) by Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, ANGUS ROBERTSON.

Jones joins a board populated by figures including GEMMA BUTTERFIELD, currently business manager for the National Trust for Scotland, Professor of Historic Environment Management at Heriot-Watt University, IAN BAXTER, and GARY JEBB, director of place at the University of Edinburgh.

“It is an honour to be given this opportunity to lead Historic Environment Scotland, which is responsible for the care of nationally and internationally significant properties and collections, spanning thousands of years of our nation’s history,” Jones said.

“My priorities as chair will be to ensure the organisation can build on its recent successes and retain the trust of the public and our partners, so that the millions of visitors HES engages with each year continue to receive the highest level of service.”

Robertson added: “Historic Environment Scotland plays a significant role in preserving that environment and in protecting and investing in hundreds of the country’s historic assets, from Calanais standing stones and Skara Brae on our islands to impressive inland fortresses such as Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle.

“Sir Mark will take up the position at an exciting time of change for the organisation and I look forward to working with him and the board in delivering our national strategy for the historic environment.”