British Museum appoints new director after alleged thefts scandal

Nicholas Cullinan, head of National Portrait Gallery, replaces Hartwig Fischer, who resigned over response to allegations

The British Museum has appointed the National Portrait Gallery head, Nicholas Cullinan, as its new director, after it emerged last year that hundreds of objects had been allegedly stolen from the museum’s collection.

Cullinan replaces Hartwig Fischer, who resigned as director last year after accepting responsibility for the museum’s failure to properly respond to warnings about the suspected thefts of hundreds of gems and jewellery.