'Catastrophic impact': Staff call for leadership change after probe clears heritage quango boss

Katerina Brown was suspended at Historic Environment Scotland after seven directors submitted a complaint

Staff at a chaos-hit quango are calling for changes in leadership after a year-long grievance into the chief executive ended with no further action.

Katerina Brown was suspended from her post at Historic Environment Scotland (HES) after seven of the organisation’s directors submitted a complaint.

One later dropped out of the collective grievance.

As exclusively revealed by The Scotsman, the allegations included that Ms Brown had created a “blame culture”, regularly cancelled meetings and been responsible for “gaslighting” other senior leaders.

She was eventually allowed back to work but the probe into her conduct continued amid wider allegations of a toxic culture within the organisation.

It is now understood the investigation has concluded and the HES board will take no action against the CEO.

Staff are understood to be furious at the length of time the investigation has taken.

One insider at the organisation said: “Report after report in recent months has laid bare the extent of the cultural problems that have torn our organisation apart.

“The behaviours and actions of those at the top have had a catastrophic impact on individuals.

“For too long people have felt unsafe to raise concerns.”

The insider added: “This latest news has to be a watershed moment and there must be changes in leadership.

“The Board have allowed this to happen, in effect fostering a culture where those in the wrong can act with impunity.

“The Senior Leadership Team needs to take a long hard look in the mirror but they won't as they are in denial.”

A spokesperson for HES said the organisation will not comment on individuals.

Ms Brown was brought in with a mandate to modernise and change the organisation.

Yet she was in post for just seven months before taking leave due to sickness.

She was then suspended from work after complaints were lodged about her professional standards in the role.

The complaints were made one week after the former chair, Dr Hugh Hall, was informed by the Scottish Government he would not be appointed for a second term.

It was alleged that senior staff had divided into two rival camps - Team Kat and Team Hugh, on the side of former chair Hugh Hall.

Directors’ concerns included that Ms Brown “displays a lack of leadership and openness in relation to staff”.

As evidence of this, the directors’ complaint said Ms Brown took credit for the organisation’s successes and ordered her office staff to raise her profile in what was described as a “cult of the personality”.

The Scottish Conservatives candidate Stephen Kerr has been pushing for the Scottish government to take action at the quango.

He said: “After twelve months, this is where we are - and it is not credible.

“We are told there was no wrongdoing, yet the deeply troubling concerns about culture inside Historic Environment Scotland remain unresolved.

“How can it take a year to reach this position, only for the core issues to still be hanging in the air? “What has actually been achieved?

“Where is the accountability? Where is the leadership? And why are we still learning about developments through leaks and whistleblowers rather than straight answers?”

In December last year, Scotland’s public body watchdog found “unacceptable weaknesses” in the management of HES.

A report by the Auditor General outlined multiple concerns that had been revealed in The Scotsman, including procurement issues, data breaches, unclear processes for complimentary tickets to events at its venues, and no formal register of interests for the Executive Leadership Team.

A culture review of HES is understood to be ongoing.

The directors who submitted the grievance include Stephen Duncan, who faced questions over his use of Edinburgh Castle resources after allegedly taking staff for a boozy lunch at the castle that was not paid for.

Craig Mearns, who had been at the centre of a racism row, was also part of the collective grievance.

Mr Kerr added: “And what of the senior leadership and the Board? Given the scale of the concerns raised, are they seriously suggesting that no one is accountable? Will those responsible now step aside, or be removed from post, to allow a reset?

“Staff have been left in limbo. Confidence has collapsed.

“The culture questions remain unanswered. That is a failure of leadership.”

Richard Hard of the union Prospect said his members have “sought to uphold their duty to HES and maintain appropriate behaviour throughout and not to leak information to the press and will continue to take this approach”.

“Such actions reflect most poorly on those who seek to interfere with due process and manipulate the situation for their own ends,” he added.

“Prospect expects the Board of HES to deal with such matters appropriately - directors have been subject to numerous and serious personal data breaches in the past year and we understand these are still being investigated.”