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Collections Trust recruits chief executive
David Gelsthorpe replaces Kevin Gosling, who leaves in the spring after nearly 10 years with the organisation
The Collections Trust has appointed David Gelsthorpe as its next chief executive.
Gelsthorpe, the chair of the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme for four years, will take over from Kevin Gosling in the spring.
Gelsthorpe was the curator of Earth Sciences at Manchester Museum for 18 years, where he worked with a large collection, supporting researchers and decolonisation work. He is also the chair of Your Trust, Rochdale’s culture and leisure trust.
Laura Pye, chair of the Collections Trust board, said: “I’m truly delighted to have David joining the team. He brings a wealth of experience from across the museum sector that will undoubtedly prove invaluable to Collections Trust – especially at this transformative time.”
Gelsthorpe’s LinkedIn page says: "I am passionate about empowering my teams to transform people’s lives through culture and collections. I am a leading culture professional with over 20 years’ experience in the sector. Partnerships, equality, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability are at the heart of what I do. I lead strategic approaches to capital projects, environmental action, decolonisation and exhibitions, helping deliver a thriving and dynamic cultural sector.”
Gosling has been at Collections Trust for nearly 10 years, joining as chief executive in September 2015. He was previously the director of communications at the Britten–Pears Foundation and has also worked for the Museum of London and the museum planning consultancy Lord Cultural Resources. He is a Fellow of the Museums Association.