Historic England names joint chief executives

CLAUDIA KENYATTA and EMMA SQUIRE will become joint chief executives of Historic England in October.

The pair will take over from outgoing chief executive DUNCAN WILSON, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Kenyatta joined Historic England as director of regions in 2018. Prior to this, she spent two years as a director in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) having worked across a range of governmental departments since joining DCMS senior civil service in 2007.

Awarded a CBE for services to heritage in the latest New Year’s Honours List, Kenyatta is also chair of the board of trustees at Battersea Arts Centre and, alongside Squire, is a member of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board.

Squire joined Historic England in November 2023, entering a job share with Kenyatta as director of regions. 

She began working as a senior civil servant in 2009, including nearly six years as director of arts, heritage and tourism at DCMS. Squire is also currently chair of the board of trustees at West Dorset’s Bridport Museum and in 2021, was awarded a CBE for services to heritage and arts during the Covid pandemic.

The pair said they are “absolutely delighted” to be appointed chief executives on a job share basis. “We’re looking forward to leading the organisation through its next chapter and making sure that heritage plays its full role in supporting people, communities and places,” they added.

Lord NEIL MENDOZA, Historic England chairman, added that the search process for new leadership attracted over 200 candidates.

“The panel and I were particularly impressed with [Kenyatta and Squire’s] deep knowledge of the culture and heritage sectors, as well as insight and experience of the functioning of government,” Mendoza said. “I have great confidence that their leadership will guide us through the coming years with clarity and purpose.”