Historic Environment Scotland appoints new CEO

Katerina joins HES from the National Trust for Scotland, where she currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. She brings a deep commitment to heritage preservation and is highly motivated to further HES’s role in contributing to Scotland’s economy; education and skills development; net zero targets and the wider cultural landscape.

Katerina boasts a wealth of knowledge from both national and international financial services, as well as renewable energy and property. Her background, coupled with her experience in the cultural heritage sector, positions her perfectly to lead HES forward.

Dr. Hugh Hall, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland, welcomed Katerina’s appointment.

"Her passion for Scotland, her experience in the heritage sector and her successful track record in business combine to make her an outstanding candidate for the job. Katerina brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and will play a leading role in delivering Scotland’s ambitious heritage strategy, which impacts significantly on many aspects of people’s lives,” he commented.

Katerina is eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

“To care for assets of national significance and international renown, to embrace advances in technology, while at the same time preserving traditional skills so that our future generations can continue to enjoy all that Scotland offers, makes me excited,” she concluded.

Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, commented

“We welcome the appointment of Katerina Brown as the new Chief Executive of Historic Environment Scotland. She brings a high level of experience and knowledge to the role and clearly has a proven passion for Scotland’s historic environment to match.

"We look forward to working with Katerina to help sustain and enhance the benefits of Scotland’s historic environment for people and communities both now and in the future."

Katerina will take up her new role on Monday 16 September 2024, and will report to the HES Board and will also be the designated Accountable Officer to the Scottish Government. 

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body for Scotland’s historic environment. The organisation is committed to caring for, protecting, and promoting Scotland’s heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.

We're the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We are at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future. Across Scotland, we investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also working with sector partners to deliver Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.

Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.

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