THE director of the Glasgow School of Art, Professor Tom Inns, is to leave his post after five years in the role.

His departure comes only months after a disastrous fire at the GSA's Mackintosh Building, which itself came four years after another fire.

Muriel Gray, chair of the GSA board, said: "On behalf of the GSA Board and all at the School I would like to wish Tom all the very best for the future. "He has had the most challenging tenure at the helm of GSA and we are truly grateful for all his enormous commitment and hard work – especially over the course of the past few months."

Until a successor has been appointed the GSA will be led by the school’s Deputy Directors, Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam and Professor Ken Neil.

Professor Inns said: "The Glasgow School of Art is an exceptional place, in stepping down I will miss the creative energy of staff and students enormously, and I wish them all well as the Institution approaches its 175th Birthday in 2020.

"Since the fire in June 2018, just months before the building was to be handed back to GSA, we’ve worked tirelessly to stabilise the building as quickly as possible to minimise disruption to our local community, and to reopen our own campus for the new academic year."

He added: "The Board of Governors is now developing plans to rebuild the Mackintosh Building.

"I have led GSA through the challenges of fire recovery twice and a restoration of the Mackintosh Building, whilst simultaneously extending GSA’s global reputation, delivering growth, opening up opportunities for disadvantaged students and transforming other parts of GSA’s estate.

"It is now time for a new Director to work with the Board to deliver the future vision for GSA."