Lord Hall named Chair of Natural History Museum

Former BBC Director General and former Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, TONY HALL (Lord Hall), has been named Chairman of the National History Museum, succeeding Sir PATRICK VALLANCE.

The appointment was made by the museum's board and endorsed by the Prime Minister Sir KEIR STARMER and Culture Secretary LISA NANDY.

It is Hall's first major appointment since being forced to stand down from his role as Chair of the National Gallery in 2021 over his handling of the Martin Bashir interview with Princess Diana.

Previously, Hall worked at the BBC as a journalist, rising to Head of News before leaving the corporation to run the Royal Opera House between 2001 and 2013. He returned to the BBC as Director General in 2013, standing down in 2020.

Dr DOUGLAS GURR, Director of the Natural History Museum, said: “We are delighted that Lord Hall has agreed to become our next Chair. His unparalleled experience at the helm of high-profile organisations defined by their public purpose makes him the ideal person to lead our Board of Trustees.

Outgoing Chair, Sir Patrick Vallance, has been appointed a Minister of State for Science.