Crisis-Hit Heritage Quango Historic Environment Scotland Faces Further Turmoil as CEO Resigns
The chief executive of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), Katerina Brown, is set to step down from her post, marking the latest chapter in a turbulent period for the national heritage body.
Ms. Brown, who took up the role in September 2024, is currently serving her notice period after tendering her resignation on Monday. The move has come as a shock to both internal staff and government officials, who had anticipated that she would remain in the position to oversee the organization’s recovery from a series of high-profile governance and cultural scandals.
Her departure follows a period of extreme instability for the quango, which is responsible for managing many of Scotland’s most significant historical sites. Ms. Brown’s tenure was previously marked by a suspension and a prolonged period of sick leave, during which the organization operated for nearly six months without an official accountable officer.
A History of Scandal
The organization has been mired in controversy, with allegations ranging from procurement irregularities and the misuse of company assets to reports of a “toxic workplace culture.”
Internal friction reached a boiling point when eight directors launched a collective grievance against Ms. Brown, citing concerns over her management style and conduct. At a recent Scottish Parliament committee hearing, it was revealed that Ms. Brown had made multiple attempts to return to work following her suspension, only to be blocked by senior management.
The wider organization has also faced scrutiny for individual conduct. Allegations surfaced regarding a senior manager who was accused of sexual harassment by a junior staff member, as well as separate claims of inappropriate behavior at a corporate event at Edinburgh Castle. Meanwhile, former board chair Dr. Hugh Hall resigned earlier this year amid investigations into the misuse of HES resources, including the unauthorized printing of thousands of pages of personal documents.
Government Intervention
The situation became so severe that First Minister John Swinney issued a direct intervention. Newly released documents show that the First Minister expressed his “expectations” to the quango, insisting that they “move with urgency” to resolve systemic issues.
“The public debate is undermining confidence in HES and that must be arrested,” the First Minister noted in an email shared with civil servants, emphasizing that the government should not attempt to deny the existence of the problems, but rather confront them overtly.
A damning report from Scotland’s Auditor General, Stephen Boyle, subsequently confirmed these concerns, highlighting “unacceptable weaknesses” in governance, including the misuse of corporate credit cards and hospitality tickets.
Political Backlash
The announcement of Ms. Brown’s departure has drawn sharp criticism from opposition politicians. Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr described the ongoing situation as a “shambles.”
“Under the SNP, HES has lurched from crisis to crisis,” Kerr stated. “Ministers need to explain why the Chief Executive has left, what her departure will cost the taxpayer, why ministers apparently didn’t know it was coming, and who is actually in charge of HES now.”
As the organization faces fresh questions regarding its leadership, the uncertainty surrounding the crisis-hit body continues to mount.
A spokesperson for HES declined to comment on individual personnel matters, noting only that “our Chief Executive remains an employee of the organization.” Similarly, a Scottish Government spokesperson stated that the matter is the responsibility of the HES board, adding: “We have been provided assurance that an Accountable Officer will be identified shortly.”
