Ex Army officer takes charge as new chief operating officer at York Minster

A former Army officer is to take charge at York Minster.

David Colthup has been appointed the Minster’s new chapter steward and chief operating officer.

David will start on Monday, 9 January.  He succeeds Kathryn Blacker who recently left the Minster for a new role at York Museums Trust.

David recently left the Army after a career spanning more than 30 years.

Having originally been commissioned into the Green Howards in 1989, he has commanded Yorkshire soldiers in various locations around the world, including Kuwait, Iraq, Germany, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Belize and Afghanistan.

Most recently he was the director of operations for all Army recruiting and initial training.  
 
As chapter steward and chief operating officer, David will oversee the cathedral’s day-to-day operations.

He will lead and support a team covering governance, security, safeguarding, HR, finance, retail, visitor welcome, events, learning, marketing, music, IT, historic collections and care of the buildings and land within the York Minster precinct. 

David takes charge as the Minster continues its progress to bounce back after Covid, which left it seeking redundancies in 2020 due to a £5.2 million shortfall.

It also closed the Minster School, which is now being turned into the Minster’s first café as part of the new plans for the Minster precinct.

The Dean of York, the Very Revd Dominic Barrington, said:  “In addition to his exceptional operational experience and expertise, David is an inspirational leader with a proven track record in supporting and valuing people and their contribution as individuals and teams.”

David said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge of learning about the people, the place and the sheer complexity of this fascinating cathedral, the Mother Church of the Northern Province of the Church of England. 

“I am particularly excited to have the opportunity to work with the great team of people at York Minster.”