Tony Hales CBE has been appointed the new Chair of English Heritage, the charity announced today (Thursday 5 February 2026).

From Stonehenge to the York Cold War Bunker, English Heritage cares for more than 400 historic sites across the country alongside a collection of over one million artefacts and the London Blue Plaques scheme. Tony brings to the charity more than two decades in leadership roles across heritage and culture. He was Chair of British Waterways and the founding Chair of its successor charity, the Canal and River Trust. More recently, he served as Chair of the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College. Under him, all three organisations delivered major regeneration and conservation projects, including a new entrance to the Lowland Canals in Scotland – complete with the striking ‘Kelpies’ horse sculptures – and the £8.5m conservation of the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

Tony is currently Chair of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and he has previously served as a non-executive director of Welsh National Opera, HSBC Bank and his beloved Aston Villa. Prior to those roles, Tony was Chief Executive of the global food and drink company Allied Domecq. In 2008, he was awarded a CBE for services to the armed forces.

Tony Hales CBE, English Heritage’s new Chair, said: “English Heritage is one of this country’s great national institutions, one that looks after and shares with us all a remarkable collection of historic sites. I grew up visiting the castles, abbeys, and houses in its care and I am both honoured and excited to be its Chair.”

Dr Chris Michaels, English Heritage’s Deputy Chair and Chair of its Nominations Committee, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Tony to English Heritage. He has a wealth of experience which will serve the charity extremely well.”

Lord Mendoza, Chairman of Historic England, said: "I really welcome Tony’s appointment which is the result of a thorough search process with many excellent candidates, and I’m thrilled that Historic England’s Commission has approved his appointment.

"Tony is a deeply experienced leader across the corporate, cultural and heritage sectors. He is well placed for such an exciting role and responsibility to care for the National Heritage Collection that has been carefully assembled over time and is loved by many.

"Tony and English Heritage’s great staff and amazing volunteers face an exciting year ahead."

This year is an exciting one for English Heritage. At Stonehenge, we will open our new Learning Centre, which has been supported by a number of generous donors, and the Kusuma Neolithic Hall – a unique classroom built by volunteers using traditional tools and materials. As the Bayeux Tapestry arrives in London, we will refresh our presentation at the East Sussex battlefield where history was made in 1066. Conservation work continues across our sites, including repairing and reopening Sibsey Trader Windmill in Lincolnshire. And in London, our blue plaques scheme will celebrate more remarkable people from the past and the buildings they called home.

Tony Hales CBE succeeds Lord Lemos CMG CBE, who stepped down last July following his appointment as Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).

English Heritage became an independent charity in 2015 and cares for – under licence from Historic England and on behalf of the nation – the National Heritage Collection of over 400 unique sites and monuments and over a million artefacts. English Heritage invests approximately £30m a year in the ongoing conservation and care of this collection. The charity is supported by its visitors, donors and almost 1.2 million members. Last financial year, 2024/25, English Heritage welcomed more than 5.5m visitors to our manned sites while more than 190,000 school children experienced history where it happened as part of 4,800 plus school visits.