Ashok Ahir has been appointed interim president and trustee of the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
Mr Ahir, 52, is deputy director of Cabinet Office communications for the UK Government. He joined the UK Government in Wales in July 2018 as director of communications, having previously run a communications agency based in Cardiff.
Before that, he worked for the BBC as a journalist, editor and programme maker.
In a Welsh Government appointment Mr Ahir will hold the role, which has a one day a week time commitment, until a permanent new president is appointed. The deadline for applications is October 13th.
Mr Ahir will be accountable to Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden.
Pedr ap Llwyd, the national library’s chief executive and librarian, said: “We are really looking forward to Ashok joining us, to benefiting from his broad experience and knowledge and to working with him over the coming months.
“In welcoming Ashok, I would like to thank Meri Huws, the former interim president, for the enormous contribution she has made to the library during the past two years and wish her, and the organisations she serves, well for the future
“Ashok joins us at the start of a new and exciting chapter in our history as we launch our new five year strategic plan 2021-2026 in a few weeks’ time."
Ms Bowden said; “Ashok is a welcome addition to the Board and I would like to thank him for agreeing to step in to the role until we recruit a new president.
I would also like to extend my thanks to Meri Huws her for her commitment as interim president. During her time in the role Meri has been a friend, advocate and champion of the Library during one of the most challenging periods in the organisation’s history.”
