Dame Lynne Brindley to step down as Chief Executive of the British Library

The British Library has announced that, after twelve successful years as Chief Executive, Dame Lynne Brindley is to step down at the end of July 2012.

Under her outstanding leadership the British Library has developed as a major cultural and scholarly institution in its new flagship building at St Pancras and she has made the Library much more accessible to researchers, business users, and the public. She has led a major strategic development and modernisation programme to ensure that the Library is relevant, innovative and accessible in the digital age.

Baroness Blackstone, Chairman of the British Library, said: "Lynne's great contribution has been to redefine the British Library for the 21st century, to ensure its relevance and vitality in the digital age and that the Library remains a leader in the global information network".

Dame Lynne Brindley said: "The twelve years I have spent at the British Library have been enormously satisfying. I am proud to have led such a wonderful institution and to have worked with so many committed and able people. We are proud that today the Library is widely recognised as a national treasure and a world leader."

Lynne plans to add to her portfolio of interests, which include non-executive Board membership of Ofcom, the Court of the Goldsmiths' Company and several research and higher education bodies.

The British Library Board has begun the process of recruiting a successor.