Retail executive named National Galleries Scotland’s second-ever female chair

CATHERINE MUIRDEN has been appointed as chair of the National Galleries of Scotland by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, ANGUS ROBERTSON.

Her four-year term begins on 1 November, taking over from BENNY HIGGINS, who has been a board member as trustee and chair for more than 12 years.

As an executive leader, Muirden has held people director positions with Barclays, Marks & Spencer, the John Lewis Partnership, and the Co-operative Group. She has also served on arts boards, including as vice chair of Scottish Ballet, chair of the Fruitmarket Gallery, and as a current trustee of Sistema Scotland.

Muirden said she was “thrilled” to be joining the National Galleries of Scotland, having first encountered the collection as a student in Edinburgh.

“I have a strong belief that art should be accessible, meaningful – and that it can be transformative,” she said. “My priorities will include safeguarding and enhancing the national art collection, strengthening public engagement through the Art Works development and working to secure sustainable funding and infrastructure.”

Alongside a love of art, Higgins said Muirden would bring “fresh energy and vision” and a “commitment to diversifying our audiences” at a time when “strong leadership will be paramount” .

He added: “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the board of trustees and support the leadership team during a period of significant challenges. Throughout this time, our unerring focus has been to cherish, protect, and nurture our wonderful national collection of art and to seek to make it accessible to all.”