London gallery chief steps down

Yana Peel, CEO of the Serpentine Galleries, claimed she was victim of “a lobbying campaign”

LONDON. 24th June 2018 Artist Christo with his new installation at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Gustavo Valiente for the National
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The chief executive of London’s Serpentine Galleries has resigned after a British newspaper revealed her husband's private equity firm is co-owner of an Israeli cyber-weapons company whose software has allegedly been used to spy on dissidents.

On Tuesday, Yana Peel announced she was stepping down so the Serpentine would not be undermined by “misguided personal attacks on me and my family”.

Ms Peel said she was at the centre of a lobbying campaign after "toxic personal attacks".

“I have decided I am better able to continue my work in supporting the arts, the advancement of human rights and freedom of expression by moving away from my current role,” she said.

An investigation by The Guardian last week revealed that Novalpina Capital controls a majority stake in NSO Group, a $1 billion (Dh3.67bn) Israeli technology company.

The regulated Novalpina fund holds the majority of NSO shares and the company’s Israeli founders hold a minority stake.

The Serpentine Gallery and Serpentine Sackler Gallery are five minutes’ walk from each other in London’s Hyde Park.

Ms Peel's resignation was overshadowed by the launch of this year’s Serpentine Pavilion, which was completed by Japanese architect Junya Ishigami.

*This article was updated in February 2020 after The Guardian removed its report of 14 June 2019.