Egan quits HES amid ongoing turmoil for Games role

Source: heraldscotland.com

TL;DR

• Egan Resigns: John Egan, head of office for HES chief Katerina Brown, left after a year to join Glasgow 2026 as Senior Government Activation Manager.
• HES Turmoil: Agency faced grievances against Brown, leadership gaps, Audit Scotland criticism of governance weaknesses leaving it fraud-vulnerable for six months.
• Ongoing Issues: Grievance inquiry into Brown persists nine months on; HES reviewing staff cards and travel amid leaks and controversies.

The story at a glance

John Egan quit as head of office to Historic Environment Scotland (HES) chief executive Katerina Brown and joined Glasgow 2026. HES, a quango managing Scotland's historic sites, has faced months of turmoil including grievances, leaks, and Audit Scotland criticism. This emerges now as Egan announced his move on LinkedIn amid ongoing investigations at HES.

Key points

• John Egan served 12 months as head of office for Katerina Brown, appointed HES chief executive in September 2024.
• Brown took sick leave on May 2 last year; leadership team lodged collective grievance on May 8, leading to her suspension before October return.
• HES lacked an "accountable officer" for nearly six months, prompting Audit Scotland to slam governance as "unacceptable" and vulnerable to fraud.
• Agency receives £74 million yearly to manage over 300 sites like Edinburgh Castle and Skara Brae.
• Controversies include leaks on work culture, such as a senior figure allegedly "twerking" at an Edinburgh Castle event.
• HES launched reviews of over 400 staff purchasing cards and overseas travel after auditor criticism.
• Grievance inquiry into Brown remains ongoing after nine months; HES cites legal reasons for no comment.

Details and context

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has been in headlines since last summer over internal issues. Katerina Brown returned from suspension with Stephen Uphill appointed as interim Chief Operating Officer for six months. Culture secretary Angus Robertson defended Scottish Government involvement during her absence, stating it engaged the board for assurances on spending.

Audit Scotland's December report by Stephen Boyle highlighted no accountable officer in charge, risking fraud and poor value for money. Robertson told MSPs the government sought board assurances on decisions needing approval. HES now considers replacing Egan but is not recruiting yet.

Egan described his HES year as "event-filled" and praised colleagues' professionalism on LinkedIn, expressing excitement for his fifth Commonwealth Games role ahead of the July 23-August 2, 2026 event in Glasgow.

Key quotes

"Absolutely buzzing to have joined the team at Glasgow 2026 as Senior Government Activation Manager after an event-filled year at Historic Environment Scotland." – John Egan, LinkedIn post.

Why it matters

HES manages key Scottish heritage sites with £74 million public funding, so leadership turmoil raises questions on governance and spending oversight. This departure highlights persistent instability at the agency, potentially affecting site management and public trust. Watch for grievance outcomes and HES leadership updates, though details remain confidential for legal reasons.

What changed

HES had John Egan as head of office for chief executive Katerina Brown. Egan left after 12 months for a Glasgow 2026 role, with HES now considering replacement options. The change emerged via his recent LinkedIn post.

FAQ

Q: What role did John Egan hold at Historic Environment Scotland?

A: John Egan was head of office for chief executive Katerina Brown for 12 months. He left after an "event-filled year" and praised colleagues' professionalism. He announced the move on LinkedIn.

Q: Why has HES been described as troubled?

A: HES faced leaks on work culture, a collective grievance by leadership against Brown leading to her suspension, and Audit Scotland criticism of governance weaknesses. It lacked an accountable officer for nearly six months, risking fraud. Reviews of staff cards and travel followed.

Q: What is the status of the grievance against Katerina Brown?

A: The inquiry into the directors' grievance against Brown, raised last May, is ongoing after nine months. HES declined comment for legal and confidentiality reasons. Brown returned to work in October after suspension.

Q: What does HES manage and fund?

A: HES gets £74 million yearly to look after over 300 historic buildings and sites, including Edinburgh and St Andrews castles, Linlithgow Palace, and Skara Brae. It promotes these assets as a government quango.