John F. D. Hoy FRICS
Former Chief Executive of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, former Board Member of VisitEngland and current Chair of Silverstone Museum, bringing more than three decades of leadership across heritage, estates and visitor destinations.
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30+ Years
Heritage & Destination Leadership
Blenheim Palace
Chief Executive — 14 Years
VisitEngland
Board Member 2011–2019
FRICS
Fellow, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Three decades balancing heritage, destination growth and commercial performance.
John F. D. Hoy FRICS is an independent heritage consultant and Chair of Silverstone Museum, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience across some of the United Kingdom's most significant historic estates and visitor destinations.
John served as Chief Executive of Blenheim Palace for 14 years, leading one of Britain's most internationally recognised heritage estates through the complex balance of conservation, commercial performance, visitor experience, education and public engagement.
He subsequently served as Chief Executive of Castle Howard, bringing similar strategic leadership to another of the country's most important historic estates and visitor destinations.
A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, John also served as a Board Member of VisitEngland from 2011 to 2019, contributing to national tourism strategy, destination development and sector growth.
Selected leadership appointments
Blenheim Palace
Fourteen years leading one of Britain's most important historic estates and visitor destinations.
Castle Howard
Executive leadership combining heritage stewardship, commercial performance and public engagement.
VisitEngland
Contributed to national tourism strategy and destination growth between 2011 and 2019.
Heritage Consultancy
Advising on heritage, estates, destination strategy and sustainable commercial development.
Silverstone Museum
Governance and strategic leadership of a major motorsport heritage visitor attraction.
Model Britain
Strategic guidance across heritage, destination strategy, viability and long-term resilience.
Heritage stewardship. Destination strategy. Long-term resilience.
John brings to Model Britain extensive experience of leading complex visitor destinations where heritage, public engagement, operational performance and commercial sustainability must work together.
His experience at Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard, VisitEngland and Silverstone Museum provides the project with valuable perspective on destination viability, audience development, estate strategy, governance and long-term place-making.
As a member of Model Britain's Advisory Board, John also provides strategic challenge around the project's long-term resilience, helping ensure that ambition is grounded in sound professional foundations and a clear understanding of what makes major visitor destinations endure.
