The National Media Museum will be without a director from next April after current postholder Colin Philpott announced he is leaving.

Mr Philpott was offered a new role of head of the facility, reporting to the deputy director of the Science Museum, but declined bringing his seven-year tenure at the city centre museum to an end.

The move is part of a shakeup of the senior management at the National Museum of Science and Industry, which is the parent group to the National Railway and Science Museums and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, which will join the group in the New Year.

Mr Philpott said: “I have loved working at the National Media Museum, however, I now want to advance my career in other ways.

“I have a number of creative projects I want to develop and am looking forward to pursuing other opportunities.”

The salary for the post was between £95,000 and £99,999 per year. It is not known what the exact responsibilities will be for the postholder of the Head of the Museum or what salary the post will attract.

Before taking up the reins in Bradford in 2004, Mr Philpott was a reporter, producer, editor and head of BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Mr Philpott will leave once the new Life Online gallery has opened. That is the world’s first museum gallery about the history and impact of the internet and is set to be unveiled next March.

Mr Philpott says he plans to publish a book next autumn.

Ian Blatchford, director of the NMSI, paid tribute to Mr Philpott’s role.

He said: “I thoroughly value his contribution. The new Head of the Museum will continue to work with the NMSI Executive Board and we are fully committed to the development of the facility in the years ahead.”