Tattoo marches to Buster's tune
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has appointed Major General Buster Howes as its new Chief Executive.
He will be the first Royal Marine to take up the position at the charity, but has a few years experience behind him. He has been a non-executive director of the Tattoo for five years.
Buster’s last military appointment was as Head of the British Defence Staff in the USA, working to the Obama administration. Prior to that, he Commanded the Royal Marines. He was subsequently the Chief Executive of Here be Dragons, a commercial-philanthropic hybrid, dedicated to the conservation and sustainable development of the Island of Principe, a UNESCO
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Biosphere Reserve in the Gulf of Guinea. Most recently, he advised the NHS, helping them to enhance organisational and individual resilience through the coronavirus pandemic.
He succeeds Brigadier David Allfrey who advised last year that he would give up the chief executive role after ten years.
Major General Buster Howes said: “It is an honour to be appointed as Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an organisation I have been a part of for five years and one which I have admired since I was a wee boy. I have worked alongside David throughout my time as a non-executive director and have witnessed first-hand, his commitment, creativity and transformation of the Tattoo.
“I’m very much looking forward to taking the reins and I am delighted to be asked to lead a team of talented and dedicated professionals. I have lived and worked in Scotland both as a ‘Bootneck’ and civilian, and I am delighted to embrace and evolve this important part of the country’s heritage.”
The Tattoo has evolved to become a spectacular event celebrating Scottish and military culture and music. WIth an audience of 220,000 at Edinburgh Castle and global TV viewing figures of 100 million each year, it really puts Edinburgh on the map. In recent years it has also included visits to Australia and New Zealand.
Major General Buster Howes