Image: New SNPG director Christopher Baker

National Galleries Scotland director-general John Leighton has announced that Christopher Baker is the new director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (SNPG) in Edinburgh.

Baker will take up the position on 1 August and was appointed following a global search by Odgers Berndtson. He succeeds James Holloway, who confirmed his retirement in January.

Having previously served as curator at Christ Church Picture Gallery in Oxford, Baker has held the position of deputy director of the Scottish National Gallery since 2003.

Leighton said: "Christopher has an extremely impressive record as a curator and a manager who has combined scholarly depth with a broad popular appeal in his work for the Galleries."

SNPG, which reopened last year following a £17.6m refurbishment, was recently confirmed among the four shortlisted attractions competing for this year's Art Fund Prize.

Details: www.nationalgalleries.org (.pdf)

Image: Chris Watt Photography