Caro Howell, Director General
Caro Howell took up the role of Director General in May 2023.
The Director General is the Board of Trustees’ Chief Executive and the Chief Accounting Officer. She is responsible for the effective development of IWM including management and staffing, the care of collections, the safeguarding of IWM's public funds and for its financial and other procedures.
She acts as the first point of contact with the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) and Trustees.
Role of the Executive Leadership Team
The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) is an executive decision-making body. ELT supports the Director General in the strategic leadership of IWM and establishing the vision, whilst maintaining executive responsibility for delivery. Following direction from the Board of Trustees, they take forward IWM's agreed strategic aims and objectives.
ELT monitors our use of public funds and ensures that best value for money is delivered. ELT ensures the maintenance of a transparent system of prudent and effective controls. This includes stewardship of funds and assets and the management of risk. They sign off major projects and investment in terms of impact, financials, and/or reputation as well as new strategy and policy changes.
ELT ensures that we meet our role and remit obligations and the needs of our audiences by exploring the causes, course and consequences of war through our permanent galleries, historic sites and temporary programming.
Françoise Harris
Françoise Harris is Executive Director, Governance & Resources.
Françoise has responsibility for Finance, HR, Fundraising and Development, Governance, IT & AV, Masterplanning, and Estates, Projects & Sustainability.
Vicky Stanbury
Vicky Stanbury is Executive Director, Business Innovation & Operations.
Vicky is responsible for Commercial, Operations, Visitor Experience, Volunteering & Engagement and Digital Transformation across IWM’s five branches.
Rob Ketteridge
Rob Ketteridge is Executive Director, Audiences & Public Engagement.
Rob leads the Audiences & Public Engagement Directorate that comprises: Learning & Engagement, Communications & Digital Engagement, Marketing, Audience Insights, and the IWM Institute.
Tilly Blyth
Dr. Tilly Blyth is Executive Director of Collections & Curatorial.
Tilly leads the Collections & Curatorial Directorate, which includes Narrative & Content, Collections Management, Collections Care, and Exhibitions, Interpretation & Design.
Rebecca Pullen
The Chief of Staff drives cross organisational collaboration, partners with ELT and ODG on the delivery of the Corporate Plan, oversees strategic stakeholder relationships, and helps ensure the organisation delivers on its ambition.
Toby Simpson
Dr Toby Simpson is the IWM North Strategic Lead. Based at IWM North, Toby is responsible for identifying opportunities to develop, grow and engage with strategic relationships across Greater Manchester, the North of England and beyond to further develop IWM North as a major cultural destination.