Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, has appointed Sir Mark Jones as Chair of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to replace Hugh Hall who quit earlier this month.
Sir Mark, who was latterly the Chair of the National Trust for Scotland, will take up the position this week after a recruitment process which, according to the government, has been ongoing since May, although it is understood that Mr Hall was contracted to the position until early next year.
Katerina Brown was appointed Chief Executive of HES in September 2024, although it is confirmed that she has been absent for some time due to illness.
Mr Robertson said: “Sir Mark has a wealth of leadership experience gained at prestigious bodies such as the National Trust for Scotland and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, which makes him the ideal candidate to lead the board of Historic Environment Scotland.
“Scotland has a unique and diverse historic environment that is internationally recognised and is a central part of all of our lives, enriches our communities and creates jobs.
“Historic Environment Scotland plays a significant role in preserving that environment and in protecting and investing in hundreds of the country’s historic assets, from Calanais standing stones and Skara Brae on our islands to impressive inland fortresses such as Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle.
“Sir Mark will take up the position at an exciting time of change for the organisation and I look forward to working with him and the board in delivering our national strategy for the historic environment.”
Sir Mark Jones, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland said: “It is an honour to be given this opportunity to lead Historic Environment Scotland, which is responsible for the care of nationally and internationally significant properties and collections, spanning thousands of years of our nation’s history.
“My priorities as Chair will be to ensure the organisation can build on its recent successes and retain the trust of the public and our partners, so that the millions of visitors HES engages with each year continue to receive the highest level of service.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with the Scottish Government and sector partners to ensure openness, transparency and good governance is at the heart of everything that we do.”
Toxic culture at HES?
HES cares for hundreds of sites in Scotland including Edinburgh Castle – and it appears that Sir Mark will have his work cut out.
At a recent meeting of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, it was revealed that the current estimate for the maintenance backlog facing HES has risen from £17.5 million when last reported to the government to £20 million. One of the buildings requiring attention is the National Gallery on The Mound where support is required to repair its “fabric and infrastructure” – and leakages as the plant system is not fit for purpose.
At the committee meeting on 11 September Stephen Kerr MSP raised the issues of the “crisis” and “toxic working environment” at HES. He said that one whistleblower had said that HES board members “walk around like they own our castles”.
Mr Kerr said: “I have been approached by a number of whistleblowers and other people who have brought certain things to my attention. I have a list, but I will give you one example that causes me some concern about attitude, culture and internal control.
“It has been brought to my attention by a number of people that on 11 August, one of the directors of HES had a dinner with a companion in the Queen Anne building at Edinburgh Castle. The Queen Anne building is a facility that is reserved for parties of up to 40 people and it can cost up to £12,000 to hire—I am not sure whether that includes the catering, but I think that maybe it does. Someone said to me that of that £12,000, £9,000 would come directly back into Historic Scotland. However, two people, a director and a companion, dined in that space alone, which apparently—this is why it has been brought to my attention—is very irregular.
When I read reports that the directors have the attitude—this is an allegation—that they
“walk around like they own our castles”,
and then people said to me that on 11 August, during the time of the Tattoo, a director and a companion ate alone in that very prestigious and expensive room, alarm bells rang. You will understand that. A director is treating that property as if it is their own.”
Mr Kerr continued that he will lodge a freedom of information request “to discover the circumstances of that event in the Queen Anne building”.
He said to the Deputy Convener of the Committee: “I am raising the issue in order to highlight the fact that £74 million of public money is given annually to Historic Environment Scotland, and there seems to be a collection of evidence that adds up to something not being right in HES. Something needs to be uncovered here. I am hoping that the cabinet secretary is involved in all this and I am hoping that he is looking very carefully at the reports that I am referring to.”
