The IHBC’s Scotland Branch has offered the institute’s welcome to the new CEO of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), David Middleton (CBE), who joins HES from Transport Scotland, where he has served as Chief Executive since February 2009, and who will take up his post from mid-November.
Jane Jackson, IHBC Scotland Branch Convenor said: ‘The IHBC welcomes the appointment of the first CEO of HES, and looks forward to supporting David as he takes on the role of bonding two of the country’s key heritage institutions while steering evolution in our national policy and guidance.’
RCHAMS writes:
The Historic Environment Scotland (HES) Board today (26th August) announced David Middleton (CBE) as its first Chief Executive.
David joins HES from Transport Scotland, where he has served as Chief Executive since February 2009, and will take up the post from mid-November. David has a long and established career within the public sector having joined the Scottish Office in 1978 with his senior civil service appointments including key posts in Housing Policy and Finance. He was also Head of Personnel in the Scottish Office in the lead up to Devolution in 1999.
Since 1999, his posts have covered Local Government, Europe and Agriculture, a secondment to the University of Highlands and Islands (Millennium Institute) before becoming the Director of the Scotland Office and most recently Chief Executive of Transport Scotland.
Historic Environment Scotland has been established as the national body for the historic environment, building on the strength of both Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). It will act as a key partner in the delivery of the new strategy and the shared ambition for Scotland’s historic environment.
Welcoming David, Jane Ryder, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland said: ‘We are delighted to welcome David Middleton as the first Chief Executive of HES. This is an exceptional and challenging role and David’s wide ranging experience of working with stakeholders across the public and private sectors will be ideally suited to HES at this critical early stage of our development. He brings an understanding of the built environment through his most recent achievements of overseeing the re-opening of the Borders Railway and progress with the Forth Crossing, projects which both enjoy a rich heritage and create a legacy for the future, a combination particularly appropriate for HES.
‘The Board is now well established, and with this appointment we are looking forward to taking on our new responsibilities from 1 October.’
David said: ‘I am delighted to have an opportunity to help shape this exciting new organisation which has such an important role to play in the life of our nation. I have been privileged to be involved in a range of important national projects in my career and I hope to draw on that experience in my new role at Historic Environment Scotland.’
