The National Motor Museum has appointed a new chair of its board of trustees to help drive ambitious plans for the future after celebrating its landmark half century.
International lawyer Robert MacGregor, Senior Partner EMEA at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), will begin his new voluntary role at Beaulieu on October 15.
His passion for cars was fuelled by his father Ian MacGregor, a motorsport business partner of Sir Stirling Moss and chair of the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) whose family got involved with his historic car restoration projects at home.
Robert joins the National Motor Museum as it embarks on a four-phase scheme to realise ambitions and raise more than £15 million to improve museum spaces, equipment and interpretation for younger visitors, as well as upgrade facilities for the conservation and restoration of its 285 vehicles on display.
Robert MacGregor said: “These are exciting times for the National Motor Museum with a bold new vision and the appointment of Jon Murden as CEO. I have a life-long passion for motor cars and their histories, so am thrilled to have been asked to succeed Christopher Macgowan OBE as chair of the board of trustees and very much look forward to working with Jon, his team at the museum and the board in order to help to deliver that vision.”
National Motor Museum Trust Chief Executive Jon Murden said: “After an extensive and rigorous recruitment exercise, I’m delighted that, in Robert, we have been able to attract such a passionate, inclusive, dynamic and strategically minded new chair. He brings a true wealth of experience to the board.
“I am excited about his appointment and keen to start working with him as we continue on our mission to deliver a reimagined National Motor Museum, engaging and inspiring people with the story of motoring through our world-class collections. His support and guidance will be vital as we seek to re-establish the museum as a leader in our field and a centre of knowledge and education which is attractive to a wide public, its peers, partners, sponsors, and funders – as well as relevant to the motor industry.”
Dr Murden added: “It has been a privilege working with our outgoing chair Christopher Macgowan, who has been a trustee and loyal supporter of the National Motor Museum Trust for over 20 years. On behalf of Lord Montagu, all the trustees, staff and volunteers, we thank him wholeheartedly for his dedicated service.”
The National Motor Museum is an Accredited Museum and all of its collections have been designated by Arts Council England as being of national and international importance. There are also plans to open up the museum’s internationally-acclaimed stored collections of more than 1.9 million items of automobilia, petroliana, motoring ephemera, libraries and archives, making them accessible for everyone. As the world of motoring is rapidly changing, the National Motor Museum is keeping pace to tell its story.