Chief Executive Officer
After nearly eight years of outstanding leadership, our Chief Executive, Gwilym Gibbons, will step down in May 2026 to embark on a new venture. This marks an exciting and pivotal moment for The Crichton Trust, creating a rare opportunity to lead one of Scotland’s most distinctive charitable organisations into its next chapter.
The Crichton is a remarkable place: a historic estate with a powerful sense of heritage, landscape and community. Established in 1996 as a charity and a company limited by guarantee, the Trust exists to promote, regenerate, and care for The Crichton and other buildings of historic interest across Dumfries and Galloway, while ensuring the estate continues to thrive as a centre of educational, commercial, recreational, cultural, and artistic excellence.
Today, our purpose is clear: to connect people, place and the past to shape the future—inspiring learning, innovation and sustainable community growth. Our ambition is to be custodians of world-leading places that inspire, innovate and drive enterprise, combining heritage, culture and sustainability to create new futures and address the grand challenges of our time.
We are now seeking an ambitious, values-driven CEO with the vision and leadership to set our strategic direction for the years ahead—working with the Board, our talented team, and a wide range of partners and stakeholders to secure long-term sustainability and impact. The next phase of our journey will be shaped around four pillars—Education, Heritage, Social-Cultural, and Enviro-Economic—as we grow The Crichton as a hub for learning and research, steward and enhance the estate’s assets, strengthen cultural and community life, and drive innovation that supports a greener, more resilient regional economy.
If this role aligns with your experience, ambitions and values, I encourage you to explore the attached information pack and get in touch with our search partner, AWS Executive, who is managing the recruitment process and can arrange a confidential discussion.
With best wishes,
Dr David Hall
