A Message from our new President

It is a pleasure to take on the reins as President of the Association following the untimely death of Lord Cormack, a colleague of mine in the House of Lords for whom I had the greatest respect. Patrick was an exemplary public servant over the course of several decades. When Daniel Calley asked me to pick up the mantle I was delighted to agree to his request.
My career background has been in the financial services sector as an investment banker in New York and London for institutions such as Robert Fleming & Co. and JP Morgan. Subsequently, I founded a boutique corporate finance firm, Montrose Partners which focussed on finding investment for international growth businesses. Following a thirty-year career in finance, I took the opportunity to become an active working hereditary peer in the House of Lords in 2019.
My interest in museums derived as a child whilst staying at our family home in the Netherlands and frequently visiting the marvellous Dutch masters and post impressionists in the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, as well as the Mauritshuis in The Hague.
Our family moved back to the UK over 50 years ago and culture and heritage has played a significant role in my life. As Chief of the Mackay clan, whose historical base is in Sutherland on the North coast of Scotland, I recognise that maintaining the traditions of the Clan and keeping its legacy going are important for its members. The Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill, Sutherland plays a valuable role in reinforcing historical traditions, as do museums up and down the British Isles.

I very much look forward to meeting you at the Conference later in the year.

With best wishes,
Aeneas Reay