Glasgow Life announces retirement of Chief Executive Susan Deighan

08 Jan 2025

Susan Deighan is to retire as Chief Executive of culture and sport charity Glasgow Life. 

Susan has worked with Glasgow Life for 18 years and helped create the charity in 2007. 

She was appointed Chief Executive in April 2022 having held senior positions including Deputy Chief Executive and Director of City Marketing and External Relations. She will step down on Friday 27 June 2025. 

Susan has led Glasgow Life through a transformative period marked by financial stabilisation and significant global recognition for Glasgow as a leading culture, sport, tourism and events city. 

Under Susan’s leadership, Glasgow Life has: 

• Delivered a series of innovative city-wide strategies for libraries, tourism, culture and events. The charity will also launch a new Physical Activity and Sport Strategy early this year and is in the process of developing a new Community Learning Plan with city partners. 
• Achieved consistent growth, with nearly eight million visits to libraries and museums in 2024. At the same time, attendances at Glasgow Club gyms increased 18% on 2023 to 4.7 million. 
• Redeveloped The Burrell Collection. Following a five-year, £68.25 million transformation, The Burrell Collection reopened in 2022 and has since welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors. It also received the prestigious 2023 Art Fund Museum of the Year award and the 2024 RIAS Andrew Doolan award for Scotland’s best building. 
• Helped Glasgow to secure and host a series of world-class accolades and major events, which have boosted the city’s economy. From becoming the first city to be named European Capital of Sport twice to delivering the first-ever UCI World Cycling Championships 2023, Banksy’s incredible Cut and Run exhibition, and the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships. 
• Made a real difference in communities through successful programmes tackling health inequality, digital exclusion, social isolation and helping more people improve their wellbeing. The charity’s unique Live Well Community Referral initiative, designed to help people engage with cultural, physical activity and learning opportunities in their neighbourhoods, secured £1 million from Glasgow City Council to expand across the city by summer 2026. 
• Secured much of the funding required to progress the city’s ambitious plans for the £35.9 million refurbishment and redisplay of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens. The charity is now working with other public and private sector funders to realise the remaining investment needed to revitalise this iconic and treasured museum in the coming years. 

Reflecting on her time at Glasgow Life, Susan said: “Leading one of Scotland’s most important charities has been the greatest privilege of my career and the past three years have shown, more than ever, the scale and significance of Glasgow Life’s social and economic contribution to Glasgow.

“We could not begin to achieve our mission that everyone deserves a great Glasgow Life without the commitment of our incredible colleagues and volunteers as well as the generous support of our partners, funders and donors. Time and again we have shown that when ambitions align, when partnerships are built on trust, and when shared values enshrine inclusiveness and equality, then Glasgow truly thrives.” 

Susan’s tenure has also reflected a steadfast commitment to organisational sustainability, including spearheading initiatives that have stabilised Glasgow Life’s finances amid challenging economic conditions. 

Susan added: “Establishing a financially sustainable long-term future for Glasgow Life has been fundamental to my role as Chief Executive. I am particularly proud of the work that has gone into balancing our budget during a period of global and local financial pressures, and that our participation and income continue to grow.” 

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council’s Convenor for Culture, Sport and International Relations, said: “Susan has made an outstanding contribution to Glasgow Life and to the city of Glasgow. Her vision and leadership have strengthened our charity, leaving a legacy that ensures culture and sport remain central to Glasgow’s identity and future prosperity. On behalf of everyone at Glasgow Life, I want to thank Susan for her exceptional dedication and wish her a long and happy retirement.” 

Our Chief Executive said: "Susan has led Glasgow Life through a very exciting period for the city and has always been a strong champion for the importance of culture, sport and tourism to the city’s success. The Burrell Collection, bringing Banksy to Glasgow, the UCI Cycling World Championships 2023, the regular events like Celtic Connections and many, many more features of the city’s vitality have been entirely down to Glasgow Life and Susan’s leadership in recent years."

Glasgow Life’s search for a new Chief Executive will begin soon. FWB Executive Search is Glasgow Life’s recruitment partner for this senior appointment. Candidates interested in applying for the role should contact Graham Burns at graham@fwbltd.com for more information.