Shock departure for CSD’s Luniw

Chartered Society of Designers acting director Maria Luniw has left after six months in the post. The circumstances surrounding her departure remain unknown, but sources close to the CSD suggest she did not leave of her own volition.

A CSD spokesman declines to comment on whether Luniw jumped or was pushed from the job. An official CSD statement reads: “After assessing the situation in relation to its strategic plans for the future, the CSD Council decided it was in the best interests of the society to let her go.” There are no immediate plans to replace Luniw, says the spokesman.

CSD president Adrianne LeMan told Design Week last Thursday that she couldn’t comment on Luniw’s departure until after a CSD Council meeting that afternoon. LeMan has not been available for comment since, nor has CSD president-elect Lin Gibbon of Glasgow consultancy Randak.

Luniw, who is believed to have left the CSD on Tuesday 10 November, joined the society as acting director in May.

The plan was that she would eventually succeed CSD director Brian Lymbery, who has been on long-term sick leave for over a year.

Luniw was unable to comment on her departure from the job as Design Week went to press.