Simon Wallis Named Secretary and CEO of Royal Academy of Arts
173June 10, 2025
The Royal Academy of Arts, London, has announced Simon Wallis as its new secretary and CEO, effective this September. Wallis, the director ofthe Hepworth Wakefieldin Yorkshire, England, arrives as the RA continues to struggle to regain its postpandemic footing, having slashed its workforce by 15 percent this past April. He will fill the role vacated by Axel Rüger, whorevealed last fallthat he was leaving to become director of the freshly restored Frick Collection in New York.
“I am delighted that Simon will be joining us,” said Rebecca Salter, president of the Royal Academy, in a statement. “As director of the Hepworth Wakefield for the past seventeen years, he brings a wealth of experience together with vision and energy. I am looking forward to working with him as we continue to shape the Royal Academy for the twenty-first century.”
Wallis was appointed director of the Hepworth Wakefield in 2008, three years before the museum, named for renowned British sculptor Barbara Hepworth, opened. Five weeks after its 2011 launch, the museum achieved its target annual visitorship of 150,000; it was named Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2017. Before arriving to the Hepworth, Wallis served as director of the Chisenhale Gallery, London. Earlier roles include those of senior exhibitions organizer at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London; curator at Tate Liverpool; and curator at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge. He studied fine art at the Chelsea School of Art and holds a master’s degree in art gallery and museum studies from the University of Manchester.
“I am looking forward to working closely with the Royal Academicians and staff and I am delighted to be able to contribute to furthering the RA’s essential charitable work where all our imaginations are nurtured, developed and expanded at a time when we need it most,” said Wallis in a statement.