British Museum seeks interim management following resignation of director
T
he final result of the interim management association on the British Museum is anticipated inside days, the PA news company understands, after the establishment’s director Hartwig Fischer introduced his resignation.
Mr Fischer leaves the London museum because it emerged final week that gadgets from its assortment have been discovered to be “missing, stolen or damaged”, prompting a police investigation.
The German artwork historian mentioned the state of affairs dealing with the museum was “of the utmost seriousness” and that duty for the failure “must ultimately rest with the director”.
The museum’s board of trustees accepted his resignation, with former chancellor George Osborne – chairman of trustees – saying Mr Fischer had “acted honourably” and that “no-one has ever doubted Hartwig’s integrity, his dedication to his job, or his love for the museum”.
The museum mentioned Mr Fischer would step down “with immediate effect”, however later clarified he would step down as soon as an interim management association was in place.
In an announcement on Friday, Mr Fischer admitted that the museum “did not respond as comprehensively as it should have in response to warnings in 2021” in regards to the stolen artefacts.
It is clear that the British Museum didn’t reply as comprehensively because it ought to have in response to the warnings in 2021, and to the issue that has now totally emerged
“Over the last few days I have been reviewing in detail the events around the thefts from the British Museum and the investigation into them,” he mentioned.
“It is evident that the British Museum did not respond as comprehensively as it should have in response to the warnings in 2021, and to the problem that has now fully emerged.
“The responsibility for that failure must ultimately rest with the director.”
Ittai Gradel, an writer, educational and antiquities supplier, had beforehand alerted the museum to a few of the stolen gadgets, and instructed PA that claims he had withheld info from the establishment was an “outright lie”.
“I was explicit in my communication with the BM (British Museum) that I was entirely at their disposal for any further information or assistance they would require. They never contacted me,” he mentioned.
In his assertion Mr Fischer mentioned he had “misjudged the remarks I made earlier this week about Dr Gradel”.
“I wish to express my sincere regret and withdraw those remarks,” he mentioned.
He continued: “I have offered my resignation to the chairman of the trustees, and will step down as soon as the board have established an interim leadership arrangement. This will remain in place until a new director is chosen.
“The situation facing the museum is of the utmost seriousness. I sincerely believe it will come through this moment and emerge stronger, but sadly I have come to the conclusion that my presence is proving a distraction.
“That is the last thing I would want. Over the last seven years I have been privileged to work with some of the most talented and dedicated public servants.
“The British Museum is an amazing institution, and it has been the honour of my life to lead it.”
In July, Mr Fischer, who has been within the put up since 2016, introduced he could be stepping down subsequent yr.
In his personal assertion, Mr Osborne mentioned: “Hartwig had already announced his intention to step down some weeks ago, so the process of finding a new permanent director is already under way.
“The Trustees will now establish an interim arrangement, ensuring that the museum has the necessary leadership to take it through this turbulent period as we learn the lessons of what went wrong, and use them to develop plans for a strong future.
The Board of Trustees has accepted the resignation of Hartwig Fisher as Director. He has acted honourably in confronting the mistakes that have been made. No one has ever doubted Hartwig’s integrity, his dedication to his job, or his love for the Museum
“The Trustees also wish to thank the many many staff who work so hard for the museum and keep it running.
“I am clear about this: we are going to fix what has gone wrong. The museum has a mission that lasts across generations.
“We will learn, restore confidence and deserve to be admired once again.”
Tim Loughton, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on the British Museum, mentioned he was unhappy to listen to of Mr Fischer’s resignation as director.
Speaking to Times Radio, the MP mentioned Mr Fischer had been a “really innovative and excellent director” over the past seven years.
Mr Loughton mentioned: “This news in the last couple of weeks has obviously been very damaging and it’s been embarrassing, and it’s been taken very seriously by the director of all the trustees of the British Museum.
“But they’re also acting with one hand behind their back because the police have specifically asked the museum not to give out more information whilst there’s a police investigation going on.
“So Hartwig hasn’t really been able to give his side of the story or more details, but he’s decided to clearly do what he thinks is the honourable thing and to offer his resignation today ahead of when he was due to be standing down next year anyway.”
Mr Fischer’s resignation comes after the Metropolitan Police confirmed to PA on Thursday {that a} man had been interviewed by officers in reference to the alleged thefts.
The drive mentioned that no arrests had been made and it could proceed to work “closely” with the British Museum as inquiries proceed.
An unnamed member of workers has been sacked and the British Museum is taking authorized motion.
It is known that the gadgets – which embody gold jewelry, gems of semi-precious stones and glass – have been taken earlier than 2023 and over a “significant” time period.