Atlanta History Center CEO to Retire

CEO Salvatore "Sal" G. Cilella Jr. announced Wednesday that he will retire after 42 years in the museum field.

An executive search committee has been formed to hire a new chief executive officer for the Buckhead museum, which Cilella has led since 2006. The committee seeks to select a candidate before Cilella’s departure in March 2012, according to a news release from the museum.

The committee, led by past board chairman David Lanier, is composed of members of the History Center’s current and former board of trustees, the news release said.

“My time at the Atlanta History Center has been rewarding and I am so proud of this organization’s service to our community,” Cilella said in a statement. “I want to thank the board of trustees for their trust in me to lead this outstanding institution and this talented staff I have had the privilege of serving with over the past five and a half years.”

During his time at the History Center, Cilella led the implementation of a Gardens and Grounds Master Plan, including the construction of the Mable Dorn Reeder outdoor amphitheater, Quarry Garden Bridge, and the completion of the Connor Brown Discovery Trail.

He also completed the transition of the Margaret Mitchell House, including a new visitor experience and exhibitions, to become a part of the History Center’s offerings. The Midtown home of the "Gone With the Wind" author is one of Atlanta's most popular attractions. In additiion, he successfully completed the subsequent accreditation by the American Association of Museums.

“Sal has done a tremendous job during his time at the History Center establishing the organization as a community resource for adults, families, school groups, educators and visitors,” Bill Shearer, chairman of the History Center Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “He has positioned the History Center for a tremendous period of growth in the future, and we are grateful for his service.”

Cilella previously served as president and CEO of the Indiana Historical Society; executive director of the Columbia Museum of Art; and associate development officer at the Smithsonian. He serves on the national board of the American Association for State and Local History.

He will remain in Atlanta with his wife, Marifred, head of the Howard School, and continue his passion for history in the publishing field. Cilella has been contracted to provide a followup book to his 2009 publication, "Upton’s Regulars: The 121st New York Infantry in the Civil War."