Royal Armouries director general resigns
Departure follows Jonathon Riley's suspension in May
Jonathon Riley has resigned as director general of the Royal Armouries in Leeds – six months after his suspension over an auditing matter.
The museum’s finance director, Chris Walker, will continue to act as interim chief executive and accounting officer until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Riley said: “After three and a half years with the Royal Armouries it is time for me to move on and develop my academic career and to fulfil other roles that I have been asked to pursue, such as my work for the International Criminal Court.
“I also need time to recover from the treatment I am currently undergoing for cancer. I would like to thank all those at the armouries with whom I have had the pleasure of working for their good wishes and, in return, I wish them the very best for the future.”
Riley, a former army commander in Iraq and one of Britain’s most senior generals, was suspended on full pay in May pending a review of issues raised by the museum’s auditors. He did not return to work between his suspension and his resignation.
The nature of the auditing issue remains confidential. A spokeswomen for Royal Armouries told Museums Journal the review had concluded but declined to comment further.
Riley joined the Royal Armouries in 2008 to replace Paul Evans, who himself resigned as director general after an investigation into “potential irregularities” at the museum.
The museum’s finance director, Chris Walker, will continue to act as interim chief executive and accounting officer until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Riley said: “After three and a half years with the Royal Armouries it is time for me to move on and develop my academic career and to fulfil other roles that I have been asked to pursue, such as my work for the International Criminal Court.
“I also need time to recover from the treatment I am currently undergoing for cancer. I would like to thank all those at the armouries with whom I have had the pleasure of working for their good wishes and, in return, I wish them the very best for the future.”
Riley, a former army commander in Iraq and one of Britain’s most senior generals, was suspended on full pay in May pending a review of issues raised by the museum’s auditors. He did not return to work between his suspension and his resignation.
The nature of the auditing issue remains confidential. A spokeswomen for Royal Armouries told Museums Journal the review had concluded but declined to comment further.
Riley joined the Royal Armouries in 2008 to replace Paul Evans, who himself resigned as director general after an investigation into “potential irregularities” at the museum.