Julie Finch has been named as the new director of Compton Verney Art Gallery in Warwickshire.
Finch, who is the chief executive officer at the Cheltenham Trust, will start the role in April 2019. She replaces the gallery's former director, Steven Parissien, who stepped down last month to become the director of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.
Finch previously worked as the project director for the new Museum of Western Australia in Perth, and was the director of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives Services for seven years before that. She is also currently responsible for Wilson Museum and Art Gallery, which has a collection of international importance.
Finch said: "This is a dream job. Compton Verney is unique - no other institution has a comparable artistic collection combined with such a fantastic landscape. I'm keen to develop its relationships with visitors and broaden the customer base as a place for everyone."
Finch intends to use her position to capitalise on Coventry becoming the City of Culture, as well as the global reputation of Shakespeare's hometown. She added: "I want to broaden Compton Verney's standing, not just as a regional or national resource, but as a place of international calibre."
Finch, who is the chief executive officer at the Cheltenham Trust, will start the role in April 2019. She replaces the gallery's former director, Steven Parissien, who stepped down last month to become the director of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.
Finch previously worked as the project director for the new Museum of Western Australia in Perth, and was the director of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives Services for seven years before that. She is also currently responsible for Wilson Museum and Art Gallery, which has a collection of international importance.
Finch said: "This is a dream job. Compton Verney is unique - no other institution has a comparable artistic collection combined with such a fantastic landscape. I'm keen to develop its relationships with visitors and broaden the customer base as a place for everyone."
Finch intends to use her position to capitalise on Coventry becoming the City of Culture, as well as the global reputation of Shakespeare's hometown. She added: "I want to broaden Compton Verney's standing, not just as a regional or national resource, but as a place of international calibre."
Compton Verney's chair of governors, Kirsten Suenson-Taylor, said: "We are delighted that Julie Finch will join Compton Verney in the spring of 2019. Julie will bring a wealth of experience to the role and the enthusiasm that comes from having been a visitor for many years."
