Update 11 January 2010

It has been some time since the co-ordinators of Action 4 Archives posted an update on the site. Much has happened since TNA announced in September that they were implementing the cost-cutting proposals originally set out in July, albeit in a slightly modified form. Consequently, 2010 sees a major international institution closed to the public on Mondays; at least, in theory, this has permitted those staff that survived the cull plenty of time to undertake behind-the-scenes work such as cataloguing and indexing (although in reality many have found they cannot actually order any documents to work on, as the delivery staff are not there. Still, it was a nice idea).

Today saw the announcement that the Chief Executive, Natalie Ceeney, is to leave TNA in mid-March to take up a new position as Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service (a post that was advertised way back in September 2009, during the climax of the consultation process). Her statement is printed here in full:

‘It’s with a real mix of emotions that, after over 4 years here at The National Archives, I’ll be leaving in mid March to take up a new role, as Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

I’ve loved working at The National Archives, and feel very proud of everything that the organisation has achieved over the last few years. Over the past four years we’ve built up and really championed the Knowledge & Information Management Profession, which is going to be critically important going forward. And we’ve developed, together with partners across government, services such as Civil Pages (which launches to the whole Civil Service in April), and the Shared Service Digital Continuity Service (which is now tendering for a framework agreement that Departments can embed in their IT contracts). And, across the wider archive sector, we’ve developed a clear strategy which should help take the sector forward. I will really miss my current role, and miss working with my colleagues across government, but with my five year contract coming to an end later this year, it’s now the right time for me to move on, and let someone else take over the leadership of The National Archives and of the KIM Profession. I’ve got every confidence that The National Archives and Government KIM will continue to go from strength to strength, and that I’ll read about the latest news regularly in the press!

The recruitment of my successor will be handled by the Ministry of Justice. Given the need to do a full, open competition for my role, this will take some time. In the meantime, the Ministry of Justice have asked Oliver Morley, currently our Customer & Business Development Director, to step into the Chief Executive role on an interim basis. I’ve worked closely with Oliver over the past year, and am confident that he’ll do an excellent job. I will try and introduce Oliver to as many people as I can before he formally starts.

I won’t be leaving for two months yet, so I hope that, over that time, I’ll have a chance to say goodbye to everyone. And thank you for all the help and support you’ve given me, and The National Archives, over the last four years. I hope we can keep in touch.’

I’m sure you will join me in wishing Ms Ceeney every success in her new post.

Although it is worrying that the direction and leadership of TNA is effectively being babysat during a critical period of national politics, we recognise that there is an opportunity for an external candidate to make a fresh start, and we urge those of you who read this post to encourage suitable individuals with the ethos of archival excellence at heart to step forward when the job specification is announced. We also hope that this is resolved sooner rather than later.

You may also notice many familiar faces missing from the reading rooms at Kew as a result of the redundancy exercise. Similarly, specialists who you will have previously encountered answering your tricky questions will be appearing less regularly, as their administrative duties mean they will be spending more time behind the scenes. We sincerely wish all of them well.

Finally, A4A will hopefully be able to announce some behind-the-scenes activity of our own later this month.