Glasgow School of Art director Tom Inns steps down

The director of the Glasgow School of Art has stepped down after five years at the helm and two serious fires at the institution.

Tom Inns, who led the GSA since 2013, said that after navigating the institution through the challenges of fire recovery twice, it was “now time for a new director to work with the board to deliver the future vision”, which includes plans to rebuild the damaged Mackintosh Building.

Earlier this year a fire ripped through the art nouveau masterwork, as restoration work continued following a blaze that destroyed much of its famous library in 2014.

At the time, Professor Inns said that staff were “heartbroken” by the second fire at the building, which occurred just months before a £32 million restoration was due to be completed following the first fire.

Professor Inn said that the GSA was “an exceptional place”, which had “worked tirelessly to stabilise the building as quickly as possible” to minimise disruption to the local community and to reopen the campus for the new academic year.

Muriel Gray, chair of the board of governors, said that the board and the school wished Professor Inns “all the very best for the future”.

“He has had the most challenging tenure at the helm of GSA and we are truly grateful for all his enormous commitment and hard work – especially over the course of the past few months,” Ms Gray said.

Until a successor is found the institution will be led by the school’s deputy directors Irene McAra-McWilliam and Ken Neil.

anna.mckie@timeshighereducation.com