News

# The National Archives welcomes new directors

Tobi Adetimilehin joins the organisation as Finance Director and Claire Wightman
is appointed Director of People, Inclusion, and Change.

Published 21 January 2026

We are pleased to announce that Tobi Adetimilehin has been appointed Finance
Director of The National Archives, and started her term leading the Finance and
Performance teams on 8 December 2025.

Tobi was most recently the Deputy Director Finance lead for Strategic Programmes
and the Future Combat Air System Programme at the Ministry of Defence.

Before this, Tobi was the Senior Finance Business Partner lead for one of HMRC’s
transformation programmes. She has also held finance roles in the Department for
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and acted as Assistant Director in the
Shareholder Executive, now known as UK Government Investments.

Tobi is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a
member of the Government Finance Function.

      

![Tobi is smiling and looking directly into the camera. She is wearing a black and white patterned blouse.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/tob.max-1200x1200.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg)

> I am delighted to be joining The National Archives which has a broad and vital
> remit. I am looking forward to working alongside colleagues who are passionate
> about the archive sector and helping deliver our shared vision of becoming the
> living, digital national archive of the state. I would like to thank Peter Mills
> for the excellent handover and the great work he has done as the Interim Finance
> Director which we will continue to build on.

Tobi Adetimilehin

We are also happy to announce that Claire Wightman has been appointed Director
of People, Inclusion, and Change, and started on 12 January 2026.

Claire will provide strategic leadership on all aspects of The National
Archives’ people strategy and organisational change. This includes the provision
of HR products and services, ensuring they meet staff needs, and delivering
workforce strategy and transformation expertise, ensuring that The National
Archives has the workforce plans, skills and culture required for the future.

Prior to this, Claire held several leadership roles within the Civil Service HR
Profession, most recently working as Deputy Director of People Development and
Transformation at the Cabinet Office.

      

![his is a portrait photo of Claire from the shoulders up. Claire has dark blonde hair and is smiling at the viewer. She is wearing a blazer and striped shirt.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/cla.max-1200x1200.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg)

> I am genuinely excited to be joining TNA – a hugely exciting organisation that
> performs a unique and exciting role for the country, and one that enriched my
> own journey as a student many years ago. My sincere thanks to everyone who has
> welcomed me so warmly.

Claire Wightman

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