Significant loss for TNA

A news item on the UK National Archives website announces the departure of Oliver Morley. If only he were leaving to head up Library and Archives Canada.

Oliver Morley, our present Chief Executive and Keeper, has accepted a role as Chief Executive of the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) starting from 4 November 2013.

Oliver has been Chief Executive and Keeper since March 2010, and over the past three and a half years has made a major contribution to the continuing success of the organisation.

Oliver said to staff, "While I'm greatly looking forward to the new opportunity with DVLA, it's been a privilege working with such a talented group of staff, our enthusiastic readers, and the people who make our archive sector so vibrant. I will miss The National Archives but will leave confident that our public task working for the record is greatly strengthened. I am very proud of all the organisation has achieved over the past three years - we have transformed the Kew site physically and environmentally, implemented a complete refresh of our world-class digital services, and delivered unprecedented transparency with the 20-year-rule change to the public record, at the same time as delivering significant savings to the taxpayer."

An update on the process for recruiting a replacement will follow shortly.