Neil Macgregor

(Robert) Neil MacGregor became director of the British Museum in 2002 after 15 years as director of the National Gallery, London.

He studied modern languages at New College, Oxford where he is now an honorary fellow. MacGregor continued his academic career studying philosophy in Paris, law at Edinburgh University and finally a Masters degree at Courtauld Institute of Art.

During MacGregor’s time at the British Museum he has been recognised as a diplomatic director, opening discussions with Greece about the Elgin Marbles and sending curators to Iraq in 2003 to assess the damage done to the country’s museums during the Iraq War.

MacGregor is also chairman of World Collections, a British diplomatic post created in 2008.

Is this profile up-to-date? If not, please let us know at whoswho@civilsociety.co.uk