MLA Council has announced that Roy Clare, previously Director of National Museum at Greenwich, has been appointed as its new Chief Executive. He will take up his new role at the beginning of September.
At Greenwich Roy Clare was credited with increasing the tempo of the museum, building new audiences and creating wider partnerships (including instigating the ‘Sea Britain 2005’ initiative to commemorate the bicentennial of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar) He shaped the £16m project to modernise services and facilities at the Royal Observatory and oversaw a succession of successful exhibitions and programmes in the National Maritime Museums and Queens House.
Formerly a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy he commanded the Aircraft Carrier Invincible and the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. For ten years he was the trustee of the historic vessel Bronington and he created the Britannia Museum of Officer training in Dartmouth. He is a Board member of the Creative and Cultural Skills Council (the Council for the Cultural Heritage Sector) and he has also lectured in the sector including on behalf of the Clore Leadership Foundation.
He was awarded the CBE for services to museums in June 2007.
Chris Batt, who is leaving MLA in September, has been Chief Executive for 4 years and has implemented many successful programmes including the Renaissance investment in regional museums. He has been pivotal in creating the dynamic and focussed organisation that MLA Council is today. For many people his lasting legacy will be his work on ‘The People’s Network’ for which he received his OBE
