Distinguished friends

As the Science Museum is all about honest, objective and rationale debate, I am delighted to be associated with a project that promotes facts, sane argument and the benefit of diversity.

Ian Blatchford

Sir Ian Blatchford was appointed Director and Chief Executive of the Science Museum Group in November 2010 and combined this with the role of Director of the Science Museum from December 2010. The national museum group oversees the Science Museum, London, the National Railway Museum, York, the National Media Museum, Bradford and the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester. Previously Ian was Deputy Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London from December 2004, having joined the Museum in April 2002 as Director of Finance & Resources.

He started his career in the City, working at the Bank of England and the merchant bankers Barclays de Zoete Wedd, before joining the Arts Council, where he was Deputy Finance Director. He then joined the marketing and design agency Cricket Communications as Financial Controller before becoming Director of Finance at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1996.

Sir Ian read law at Mansfield College, Oxford and holds an MA in Renaissance Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Currently, Ian is Chairman of the Governors of De Montfort University.

Sir Ian was awarded a knighthood for services to cultural education in 2019.