THE chief executive of York Archaeological Trust (YAT), Professor John Walker, is to retire at the end of March next year.

Mr Walker has been at the helm of the organisation, which has an annual turnover of £6 million and employs more than 200 staff plus volunteers, for ten years,.

The organisation, which manages JORVIK Viking Centre, the annual Viking Festival, the Barley Hall medieval townhouse, the DIG archaeological adventure and Micklegate Bar Museum, has recently completed the largest ever excavation in York at Hungate after five years’ digging, and created three new archaeological organisations at Nottingham, Sheffield and Glasgow.

Terry Suthers, chairman, said: “John’s distinguished career over more than four decades spans the worlds of archaeology and academia. At the heart of his work and personal motivation lies a desire to link archaeological exploration with effective education and make archaeology accessible to everyone. This has been the driving force of the Trust’s activities and successes, and we are indebted to him for the huge impact he has had on developing the Trust, both at home and further afield.”

His successor will be announced early next year.