British Museum director to step down next year after eight years in charge

Hartwig Fischer was appointed with a brief to develop a masterplan for badly needed renovation

Hartwig Fischer, the director of the British Museum, is to step down next year after eight years at the helm of one of the country's flagship cultural institutions.

The German art historian - the first non-British head of the museum since 1866 - said he wanted to focus on the rescue and preservation of cultural heritage in times of climate crisis, conflict, war, and violence".