Director appointed

19 June 2002

The Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Jack Lohman as Director of the Museum of London.

Currently Chief Executive Officer for South Africa’s Iziko museums, Mr Lohman will take up his new position with effect from 12 August 2002. He will succeed Dr Simon Thurley, who was recently appointed Chief Executive of English Heritage.

Welcoming the new appointment, the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Rupert Hambro, said “We are delighted that Mr Lohman will be joining us at such an exciting and dynamic period in the Museum of London’s history.

Since it opened its doors 25 years ago, the Museum of London has developed a strong reputation as an innovative and forward-thinking organisation. Over the past 5 years, its challenging exhibition programme has increased visitors from 250,000 to over 400,000.

The recent opening of the new World City galleries, signalling the beginning of a £33 million redevelopment plan, and the launch of Europe’s largest archaeological archive at its second site in Hackney has paved the way for the Museum’s future. I am positive that Mr Lohman will bring with him the unique skills and energy required to launch the Museum of London firmly into its next quarter century”.

Mr Lohman said “I am both delighted and honoured to have been chosen as the next Director of the Museum of London. The Museum faces many challenges as it enters this new phase of redevelopment and expansion, and I look forward to taking it from strength to strength as it continues to inspire a passion for London both here and abroad”.

Editors' notes:

Mr Jack Lohman

Mr Lohman was appointed by the South African Minister for Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in 1999 to unite 15 of South Africa’s national museums – including the South African National Gallery and the South African Museum – in a visionary new arts organisation, Iziko.

A Londoner ‘born and bred’, he began his career combining the arts and visual media in organizations ranging from Thames Television to English Heritage. As Director for both award winning audio visual company TVC Ltd and multi-disciplinary consultancy MET Studio Design Ltd, he worked on numerous museum based projects, including the development of the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre and millennium projects for the National Trust.

In addition, he has worked in an advisory capacity for the Stonehenge Advisory Group (1996-8), the ‘Light of Venice’ exhibition at the National Museum in Warsaw (1998), the Singapore History Museum (1999) and the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust and Leadership Academy (1999) amongst others.

For images or to arrange interviews:

Judith Holmes 020 7814 5502
Mairi Allan 020 7814 5511

Clore Duffield Foundation announces major donation for Museum of London’s new Education Centre

Dame Vivien Duffield, Chair of the Clore Duffield Foundation, today announced a donation of £903,000 to fund the creation of a new education wing at the Museum of London (19 June 2002). The Clore Education Centre will provide state of the art facilities, including a lecture theatre, suite of classrooms, common rooms and seminar rooms, and will enable the Museum of London’s education programme to reach more than twice the number of people it currently serves.

The Centre will become a significant addition to the £33 million redevelopment project already underway at the Museum, including a dramatic new entrance due to open in 2003.

Further information:

Erica Bolton/Jane Quinn 020 7221 5000