Public appointment: Chair appointment extended on the Board of National Galleries of Scotland

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Mr Robertson, today announced the extension to the appointment of Benny Higgins as Chair of the Board of National Galleries of Scotland.

 

Chair

 

Benny Higgins began his career at Standard Life in 1983 where he joined as an actuarial student and went on to become a member of the Standard Life Group Executive Committee in 1996.  In 1997 he moved to RBS to become Chief Executive of Retail Banking.  He was with RBS until 2005, during which time he led the successful integration of NatWest Retail Banking – one of the largest hostile takeovers ever undertaken in banking.  He became Chief Executive, Retail, HBOS in 2006 before joining Tesco Bank as Chief Executive in 2008, a position he held until February 2018 and Group Strategy Director, Tesco plc in 2014 to 2018.  He was on the Finance Committee at the court of the University of Glasgow.

 

In September 2017 Benny was asked by the Scottish Government to develop an implementation plan for the creation of a Scottish National Investment Bank.  Subsequently he was appointed as Strategic Adviser to the First Minister on the building of the Scottish National Investment Bank and Chairman of Scottish Government’s Advisory Group on Economic Recovery post COVID19.

 

Benny is Executive Chairman of the Buccleuch Group, Chairman of the National Galleries of Scotland, Chairman of Sistema Scotland, Non-Executive Chairman, Markerstudy, Chairman, The Fine Art Society (London & Edinburgh), Chairman, Edinburgh International Fringe Society, Chairman of Scotland International, Non-Executive Chairman NY2GO, Non-Executive chair of Oxygen Conservation Limited and Chairman of N4 Partners.

 

Benny graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Mathematics from the University of Glasgow and he was awarded a University Blue in 1983.  He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.  He is an Honorary Doctor of the University of Glasgow and an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration at Strathclyde University, Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow, Honorary Professor at Edinburgh University, Honorary Professor at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University and Visiting Professor Strathclyde University.

 

Extension

 

This extension will be for 4 months and will run from 1 July 2025 to 31 October 2025.

 

This extension is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

 

Remuneration

 

This extension is part-time, with a time commitment of four days per month. Appointments to the National Galleries of Scotland Board are not remunerated.

 

Other ministerial appointments

 

Benny Higgins does not hold any other public appointments.

 

Political activity

 

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. 

 

Benny Higgins has had no political activity within the last five years.

 

About the National Galleries of Scotland  

 

We are the National Galleries of Scotland and our three Edinburgh galleries are the National, Modern and Portrait. We house and look after Scotland’s amazing world-class art collection. Step inside and explore art treasures from centuries ago to the very best modern art and contemporary portraits of pop culture icons. And, as you’d expect, the world’s greatest collection of Scottish art. 

 

We’re a space for thinking, dreaming, doing and playing. Soak up the art. Meet friends in the cafés. Have a family picnic surrounded by the sculptures in the Modern grounds. Be inspired by our amazing art films. Choose your own experience. There is no one way to enjoy Scotland’s national collection. We are yours to discover. 

 

www.nationalgalleries.org