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National Galleries of Scotland appointment
21/11/2007
Linda Fabiani, the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, has announced the extension of Chair appointment of Sir Brian Ivory CBE to the National Galleries of Scotland.
Sir Brian has been Chair of the National Galleries of Scotland since June 2000. Over the last seven years he has successfully overseen a number of major projects and purchases, the most notable of which was the re-development of the National Gallery complex at the Mound, the Playfair project, which was completed in 2004.
Other achievements include the highly successful appointment of a new Director-General in 2006 and management of the transition to a new era under John Leighton.
The Galleries most notable purchase under Sir Brian's chairmanship has been Titian's Venus Anadyomene in 2003.
Sir Brian's continuing leadership will ensure continuity in the development of two major capital projects: the negotiations to purchase the Anthony d'Offay collection of contemporary art; and the planned re-development of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Sir Brian is a director of Synesis Life Ltd, Rémy Cointreau SA, Insight Investment Management and Marathon Asset Management and is Chairman of the Scottish American Investment Company plc and of Retec Digital plc.
The extension of Sir Brian's second term of appointment for one year will run from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.
The post is not remunerated. Sir Brian does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
The National Galleries of Scotland is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which looks after Scotland's finest art collections of Scottish and international art. The Chair is appointed by, and accountable to, Scottish Ministers. The National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 provides for Scottish Ministers to appoint the Chairman and members to the Board of Trustees. The Board provide leadership, direction and guidance for the public body and promotes its core values, policies and objectives.
The Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Within the last five years, Sir Brian has not been involved in any political activity.