Professor Dominic Tweddle is to step down as founding Director-General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) at the end of the month.
The museum said Tweddle’s departure comes as the museum leader moves focus to the completion of personal projects.
Matthew Sheldon, the current Executive Director of Museum Operations, will become Interim Director-General as the organisation recruits a permanent successor.
Professor Tweddle was appointed in 2009 as the first Director General of the National Museum of the Royal Navy during its creation, having brought together four existing smaller museums; the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth, the Royal Naval Submarine Museum in Gosport, the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil and the Royal Marines Museum in Eastney.
During the role, Tweddle worked with the Ministry of Defence to negotiate the HMS Victory – Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar – being transferred into the NMRN Group.
During the Covid period, Twedde secured the future of a Landing Craft for Tanks, built for the D-Day Landings, which required securing £7.5 million from the Lottery and other donors.
The museum said its Chairs, Trustees and Staff “wish Tweddle well for the future”.
