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National Gallery boss quits for Royal Academy
By Katharine Barney, Evening Standard 28.03.07
Moving on: gallery chief Charles Saumarez Smith
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The director of the National Gallery is quitting after reports of clashes with his board chairman.
Charles Saumarez Smith, 53, will become secretary and chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts in the autumn - a move which has been approved by the Queen.
The position has been newlycreated by the Royal Academy, which has had an acting secretary for the past two years.
Cambridge- educated Mr Saumarez Smith was head of research at the Victoria & Albert Museum and director of the National Portrait Gallery before moving to the National Gallery in 2002.
Peter Scott QC, chairman of the National Gallery, said: "He will be a great loss to the National Gallery. He has enjoyed nearly five years of remarkable achievement as our director.
"He displayed extraordinary determination and campaign planning in securing The Madonna Of The Pinks for the nation.
"He has overseen a run of hugely successful exhibitions such as Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio and Velazquez and his focus on improving visitor servicesentrance area - a legacy that will be of enormous benefit for future generations of visitors."
But sources suggest it may have been Mr Saumarez Smith's difficult relationship with Mr Scott that led to his decision to accept the alternative post.
It was reported that the director was the victim of "bullying and undermining" by Mr Scott.
Mr Saumarez Smith said: "After 13 years running two major national galleries, I am looking forward to working closely with the president and the council of the Royal Academy, as well as with the community of contemporary artists, architects and sculptors which the Royal Academicians represent.
"An obvious challenge is to ensure that the Royal Academy's programme of major international exhibitions is sustained, as well as to create a 21st-century vision for this outstanding centre for art in the heart of London."
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, president of the Royal Academy, said he was "absolutely delighted" that Mr Saumarez Smith had accepted the post. "He comes with a wealth of experience which will be particularly valuable to us," he added.
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