26 July 2017
Interim Chair Appointed to the Creative Scotland Board
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, today announced the appointment of Ben Thomson as Interim Chair of the Creative ScotlandBoard, following the resignation and sad passing of the previous Chair Richard Findlay. Ms Hyslop said:
“I welcome Ben Thomson’s appointment as the Chair of Creative Scotland. He brings a wealth of cultural experience and business acumen to this post, including from his time as Chair of the National Galleries of Scotland and the Edinburgh Science Festival. I am pleased he has agreed to take on this new role on an interim basis for the next six months while a permanent Chair is recruited.”
Interim Chair
Ben Thomson has just completed two very successful terms as chair of the National Galleries of Scotland. His eight year tenure as Chair of the NGS saw the redevelopment of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the extension of the Galleries’ work across Scotland through the Artist Rooms programme and the Generation project of contemporary art celebration around the Commonwealth Games, as well as record visitor numbers at the Galleries’ sites in Edinburgh.
Ben Thomson has held a wide range of non-executive directorships over his career. He is currently Chair of Inverleith LLP, a corporate finance advisory business and a Non-Executive Director of The Scotch Malt Whisky (Holdings) Limited, the parent company of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. He does not hold any other ministerial appointments.
APPOINTMENT
This appointment will be for six months and will run from 26 July 2017 to 31 January 2018.
This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
The Scottish Government will be holding an appointments exercise for a permanent Chair of Creative Scotland to take office from 1 February 2018.
REMUNERATION
This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £250 per day for a time commitment of four days per month. Mr Thomson has waived this remuneration.
OTHER MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
Ben Thomson does not hold any other public appointments.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
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 within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
Ben Thomson has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
BACKGROUND
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. It enables people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life.Creative Scotland distributes funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery.