Michael Wheeler (who also applied for the Leverhulme grant and thus originated the project) held this position from January 1997 until leaving Lancaster University in September 1999. During this period he also held the title of General Editor of the Ruskin Programme's Electronic Editing Project (which consisted of the Ruskin Works CD-ROM and, initially, the Digital Edition of Modern Painters I). Michael Wheeler also held the post of Consultant Textual Editor and Consultant Manuscript Editor (which last he still holds).
From September 1999 until January 2000, Tony Sharpe acted as Lead Investigator. From January 2000 Keith Hanley took on this position, as well as that of Consultant Textual Editor.