The departure follows the recent transformation of the National Museum of Scotland, a fifteen-year £80 million investment in the visitor experience at the museum. The project, which created 29 new galleries, has made National Museum of Scotland the most visited museum and attraction in the UK outside London.
Dr Rintoul joined National Museums Scotland in 2002 and has overseen the organisation’s development into one of the leading museum groups in Europe. He was awarded a CBE for services to museums in 2012 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2018. Speaking about his contributions to National Museums Scotland he said: ‘None of these achievements would have been possible without the extensive and committed work of our talented and dedicated staff and volunteers, and our committed supporters whether as donors, advisers or simply through encouraging our work. I am deeply indebted to them all for standing alongside me on this hugely enjoyable journey’.