British Museum appoints director of collections

The British Museum has appointed Xerxes Mazda to join its executive team as director of collections, responsible for managing the stewardship of its eight million objects.

Mazda has been director of collection and curation at the British Library since 2021, and held a similar role at National Museums Scotland prior to that where he led the collections elements of major capital projects.

He previously worked at the British Museum from 2005 to 2013 in senior interpretation and visitor experience roles, before leaving for a two-year stint as deputy director at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada.

As director of collections, a role that was advertised last summer with a salary of £120,000, Mazda will lead on some of the British Museum’s priorities such as engaging with source communities about contested objects and the development and redisplay of the collection through the next phase of its masterplan to redevelop the Western Range of galleries.

“There are some big opportunities on the horizon with the masterplan, and I am passionate about working collaboratively to look at how we’re engaging visitors with our objects in the best way possible through exhibitions and outreach,” Mazda said in a statement.

“It is vital too that as an institution we remain curious – continuing to expand our own knowledge of the collection through research and partnership to balance our role as both a much-loved attraction but also as a centre of educational excellence.”

Stewardship and care of the museum’s collections are a core part of the role – areas that have come under intense scrutiny since the British Museum announced in 2023 that about 2,000 objects were damaged, missing or stolen from its collection.

An internal investigation highlighted “major weaknesses in the museum’s control environment related to the security of collection objects and associated records and archival material” and the museum’s annual report later acknowledged the risk of reputational damage posed by “perceptions around documentation and stewardship of the collection”.

Once he joins the museum in spring, Mazda will be responsible for ensuring that “appropriate strategies, procedures, structures and resources are in place to deliver excellence in the care, development, research and presentation of the collection”.

Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, said: “I am truly delighted to have Xerxes joining our outstanding team. He brings a wealth of experience that will be invaluable to the museum – especially at this moment in our history.

“Xerxes is respected across the sector, and as we build momentum on the delivery of our Masterplan, I am thrilled to know we will have Xerxes’ input on how we collectively reimagine the British Museum in collaboration with a global community for the widest possible audience and future generations.”

Mazda has an MA in natural sciences and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Cambridge. He also has a masters in the history of technology from Imperial College, London.

He is a member of the Kew Gardens Scientific Advisory Committee and a board member of the Academic Libraries North, Britten Pears Arts and a director of the Consortium of European Research Libraries.