Martin Roth was Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London from 2011 to 2016. Under his leadership the V&A was recognized as the Museum of the Year in 2016. His exhibition Alexander McQueen, Savage Beauty won the Museums and Heritage award for Best Temporary exhibition of 2015. Before moving to London, Dr. Roth was the General Director of The Dresden State Art Collection, which is comprised of 12 museums and galleries. Martin Roth is a Trustee of the British Council and the Goethe Institute. He is also the Special Advisor to the German Foreign Ministry for Cultural Matters, Honorary Fellow of Arts University Bournemouth and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies University Centre, University of British Columbia.

He is currently President-elect of the IFA (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) in Germany.