Jony Ive Named Trustee of the British Museum

NEW JOB: Jony Ive, former chief design officer of Apple, has been named a new trustee of the British Museum.

The British Museum board has up to 25 members: 15 appointed by the prime minister, one by the Crown, four by relevant industry bodies, and a further five appointed by the trustees, where Ive’s appointment came from.

Other notable trustees of the British Museum include artist Tracey Emin, George Weston, whose family previously owned Selfridges, and TV host Claudia Winkleman.

George Osborne, chair of trustees at the British Museum, said: “There is no one on Earth better equipped” to help the British Museum bring great design and the latest technology together to transform its galleries.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have one of the founders of the modern age join our board. Ive fuses design and technology in a way that has changed our world — and with his work at the frontier of AI, continues to do so,” added Osborne.

Ive, who recently signed a $6.5 billion deal with OpenAI to create physical products, said: “I have adored the museum since I first visited as a child over 50 years ago. It is a remarkable and singular institution that ultimately fosters curiosity and understanding across cultures and time.

“Like most designers, I am a keen historian, and the British Museum is a masterpiece of public cultural experience. I am thrilled to be working with such a wonderful team, and look forward to supporting the museum’s appropriately ambitious masterplan for transformation,” he added.