British Museum deputy director resigns amidst theft investigation

author: FutureCar Staff    

The head of the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, has resigned following a scandal involving stolen artifacts. Fischer's deputy, Jonathan Williams, has also stepped back from his duties. The museum's board of trustees accepted Fischer's resignation, with former chancellor George Osborne stating that Fischer had acted honorably and that his integrity and dedication to the museum were never in doubt.

Fischer's resignation will take effect once an interim leadership arrangement is in place, which is expected to happen within days. The museum later announced that Williams had agreed to voluntarily step back from his duties until the independent review into the thefts had concluded.

In his statement, Fischer admitted that the museum had not responded adequately to warnings about the stolen artifacts in 2021. He took responsibility for the failure and expressed regret for his earlier remarks about Ittai Gradel, who had previously alerted the museum to some of the stolen items. Gradel denied withholding any information from the institution.

Fischer offered his resignation to the chairman of the trustees and expressed his belief that the museum would come through this difficult period and emerge stronger. He stated that his presence was becoming a distraction and that his resignation was the last thing he would want. Fischer praised the dedicated public servants he had worked with during his time at the museum and described leading the British Museum as the honor of his life.

The process of finding a new permanent director is already underway, as Fischer had previously announced his intention to step down next year. The trustees will establish an interim arrangement to provide necessary leadership during this turbulent period and work on developing plans for the museum's future.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man had been interviewed in connection with the alleged thefts. No arrests have been made, and the police will continue to work closely with the British Museum as the investigation continues. The museum has taken legal action and terminated the employment of an unnamed staff member. The stolen items, including gold jewelry, semi-precious stones, and glass, were taken over a significant period of time before 2023.

FutureCar Staff