Ian Blatchford

Sir
Ian Blatchford
FSA
Photograph of Ian Blatchford
Ian Blatchford in 2012.
Born
Ian Craig Blatchford

17 August 1965 (1965-08-17) (age 59)
NationalityBritish
Alma materMansfield College, Oxford
Birkbeck, University of London
OccupationMuseum director
Employer(s)Bank of England
Barclays de Zoete Wedd
Royal Academy of Arts
Victoria and Albert Museum
Science Museum (London)
Known forDirector of Science Museum Group

Sir Ian Craig Blatchford, FSA (born 17 August 1965)[1] is the director of the Science Museum Group, which oversees the Science Museum in London, England and other related museums.[2] He was previously deputy director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, opposite the Science Museum on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, southwest London.

Blatchford studied law at Mansfield College, Oxford.[3] He also holds an MA degree in Renaissance studies at Birkbeck, University of London.

Ian Blatchford started his career working at the Bank of England and the merchant bankers Barclays de Zoete Wedd in the City of London.[3] He then joined the Arts Council as the deputy finance director. He moved to the marketing and design agency Cricket Communications, working in the position of financial controller. In 1996. he joined the Royal Academy of Arts as the director of finance.

In April 2002, Blatchford joined the Victoria and Albert Museum as director of finance and resources.[3] He then became deputy director in December 2004. He left to be director of the National Museum of Science and Industry in October 2010.[4]

Blatchford is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants[3] and the Society of Antiquaries (FSA). He was chairman of the governors of De Montfort University.[5][6] He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to Cultural Education.

Blatchford was awarded a Pushkin Medal in 2015, personally presented by Vladimir Putin.[7] He returned it in March 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[8]

  1. ^ "Weekend birthdays". The Guardian. 16 August 2014. p. 49.
  2. ^ "National Museum of Science & Industry appoints new Director". UK: Science Museum, London. 10 September 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "V&A deputy to head national museum group". Exhibitionroad.com. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  4. ^ Sample, Ian (24 September 2012). "Science Weekly podcast: Have science museums had their day?". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  5. ^ Martin, Dan (8 February 2019). "'I quit in November' says DMU senior leader". Leicestermercury. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Ian Blatchford: Director and Chief Executive, The Science Museum Group; Chairman of the Board of Governors at De Montfort University". UK: De Montfort University. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  7. ^ Sparks, John (11 December 2015). "Top Russian Honour For Science Museum Head". Sky News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Ian Blatchford hands back Pushkin Medal in response to Ukraine invasion". Museums Association. 4 March 2022.