Press release

Douglas Gurr appointed as Chairman to the Board of the National Museum of Science and Industry

The appointment of Douglas Gurr as Chairman to the Board of the National Museum of Science and Industry has been announced.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Prime Minister has appointed Douglas Gurr as Chairman to the Board of the National Museum of Science and Industry for 4 years from 1 July 2010.

Biographical Details

Douglas Gurr

Douglas Gurr is Executive Development Director at Asda and a main Board Director of Asda Group Limited. He had previously spent several years at the management consultancy McKinsey & Company, before becoming Founder and Chief Executive of Blueheath, an internet-enabled stockless wholesaler. With this venture he created a new business model and built it rapidly into a business with a multi-million pound turnover. Before this he was a partner at McKinsey and Company (1995 to 2001) and head of the UK retail practice. His consultancy work here included the Science Museum among his clients. He spent 3 years before this (1992 to 1995) at the Department of Transport and reached the position of head of the policy team responsible for London Underground. His educational background is in mathematics and he has a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science, subjects he then taught for a year (1991 to 1992) at the University of Aarhaus, Denmark. He is the author of a number of academic journal articles in both these areas. Douglas is a Trustee of National Museum of Science and Industry.

Notes to editors

1. NMSI is the world’s pre-eminent museum group holding the national collections of science, technology, medicine, transport and media. It comprises: Science Museum, London, National Railway Museum, York, National Media Museum, Bradford, Locomotion, Shildon. 2. The post is not remunerated. Reasonable expenses can be claimed. 3. The appointment has been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. Douglas Gurr has not undertaken any significant political activity during the past 5 years.

Published 25 June 2010