Charles Gurassa brings 35 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry to the role. A former Chief Executive of Thomson Travel Group and Senior Executive at Thomas Cook and British Airways, he is also a former Deputy Chairman of the National Trust. He is currently Deputy Chairman at easyJet plc, the Senior Independent Director of Merlin Entertainments plc and Chairman of NetNames and of Genesis Housing Association.

His appointment brings the total number of trustees at English Heritage to 12 with Charles Gurassa joining Alex Balfour, Vicky Barnsley OBE, Kate James-Weed, Sukie Hemming, Professor Ronald Hutton, Sir Laurie Magnus, Ian McCaig, Malcolm Reading, Sarah Staniforth CBE, James Twining and English Heritage Trust Chairman, Sir Tim Laurence KCVO, CB, ADC.

Sir Tim Laurence, Chairman of the English Heritage Trust, said: “I am delighted to welcome Charles Gurassa as a trustee. He brings a wealth of vital experience to English Heritage and will help us to establish the new charity and to attract new visitors to the wonderful sites in our care.”

The English Heritage Trust is a new independent charity which from 1 April 2015 will look after – on behalf of the nation – the National Heritage Collection, consisting of more than 400 historic sites across England including Stonehenge, Dover Castle and some of the best preserved parts of Hadrian’s Wall. Through these sites, it will bring the story of England to life to over 10 million visitors each year. It is licensed to manage the National Heritage Collection by the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England and is a registered charity, no. 1140351.