Museum of London names new director
Sharon Ament will take up the role in September
Sharon Ament, director of public engagement at the Natural History Museum (NHM), has been appointed as the new director of the Museum of London.
She will take up the post in September 2012. Her appointment follows Jack Lohman stepping down after 10 years in the role to join the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, Canada. He officially left the Museum of London at the end of March, with David Spence taking over as the interim director.
Michael Cassidy, chairman of the board of governors of the Museum of London, said: “Sharon has a strong track record with over 20 years’ experience in the area of culture and tourism. She is a powerful exponent of the potential museums have to transform people’s lives.”
In her current role, Ament is responsible for visitor services, learning, communications, interactive media, exhibitions, public programmes and fundraising at NHM. She oversees a team responsible for generating an annual income of over £18m.
She chairs the Exhibition Road Cultural Group, which represents 17 major cultural organisations, and is vice president of Ecsite, the European Network for Science Centres and Museums.
“There are few roles that bring the range of opportunity and ability to make an impact upon the self-awareness and culture of a city as that of the director of the Museum of London,” Ament said. “My passion for the people, intellectual output and reputation of London marries well with the work and philosophy of the Museum of London.”
Ament previously worked at London Zoo as head of marketing and PR, and at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust as head of national marketing. Until recently she was a trustee of the Wildscreen Trust and the International Wildlife Film Festival.
She will take up the post in September 2012. Her appointment follows Jack Lohman stepping down after 10 years in the role to join the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, Canada. He officially left the Museum of London at the end of March, with David Spence taking over as the interim director.
Michael Cassidy, chairman of the board of governors of the Museum of London, said: “Sharon has a strong track record with over 20 years’ experience in the area of culture and tourism. She is a powerful exponent of the potential museums have to transform people’s lives.”
In her current role, Ament is responsible for visitor services, learning, communications, interactive media, exhibitions, public programmes and fundraising at NHM. She oversees a team responsible for generating an annual income of over £18m.
She chairs the Exhibition Road Cultural Group, which represents 17 major cultural organisations, and is vice president of Ecsite, the European Network for Science Centres and Museums.
“There are few roles that bring the range of opportunity and ability to make an impact upon the self-awareness and culture of a city as that of the director of the Museum of London,” Ament said. “My passion for the people, intellectual output and reputation of London marries well with the work and philosophy of the Museum of London.”
Ament previously worked at London Zoo as head of marketing and PR, and at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust as head of national marketing. Until recently she was a trustee of the Wildscreen Trust and the International Wildlife Film Festival.