Charity founder Yana Peel is new Serpentine boss

The founder of an arts charity that has raised millions to allow galleries and museums to buy new work has been named CEO at the Serpentine Galleries.

Yana Peel, who co-founded the Outset Contemporary Art Fund and is CEO at public debate forum Intelligence Squared, will replace Julia Peyton-Jones, who steps down this month after 25 years as director of the Hyde Park institution.

Peel, who was born in Russia, grew up in Canada and studied at LSE before working for Goldman Sachs, will work with artistic director Hans Ulrich Obrist. She said: “I am thrilled to be taking on the leadership of the Serpentine, an institution that I have admired and been involved with for so long. With Hans Ulrich as artistic director, I am fully committed to making the most exciting art and ideas of our time accessible to the broadest audiences.”

Outset provides a small group of private patrons with access to major names on the arts scene. The patrons paid thousands for the privilege, with the money going to galleries to buy work by up-and-coming artists.

Michael Bloomberg, chairman of the Serpentine Galleries, said: “I am confident that Yana and Hans Ulrich’s bold new leadership will enable us to continue pushing new boundaries for contemporary artists and audiences.”