Metropolitan Museum Of Art Appoints New Chief Executive

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Metropolitan Museum of Art has officially named Daniel H. Weiss its new president and chief executive officer —months after Thomas P. Cambell resigned from the position — the museum announced Tuesday.

In what was essentially a formality (The Met announced that Weiss would assume the role when Campbell announced his resignation) the museum's board of trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to select Weiss for the position, according to a press release. Weiss had been serving as the museum's interim president and CEO since Campbell's departure.

"The Board couldn't be more confident in Dan's ability to take the Museum to even higher levels of excellence," Daniel Brodsky, chairman of the board of trustees, said in a statement. "He is a scholar of art history, he is a seasoned leader of complex institutions, and he is committed to the Museum's mission."

For the past two years, Weiss has served as the president of The Met. Going forward, Weiss will handle the "key institutional, capital, and infrastructure priorities," of the museum, according to a press release. Weiss and the board of trustees will hire a museum director to handle The Met's "artistic direction and curatorial priorities," according to a press release.

The eventual director of The Met will be in charge of exhibitions, acquisitions, conservation, scientific research, education and public programming. It appears as if Weiss will mainly stick to the business operations of the museum, which was mired in financial troubles during Campbell's tenure as chief executive.

"Leading The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an extraordinary honor," Weiss said in a statement. "Our Museum's collections and professional staff set the world standard for exhibitions, scholarship, preservation, education, and public programming, and as thoughtful advocates for the importance of art in our culture. I am equally humbled and excited to continue working closely with the Board and the Museum's unparalleled staff."

Photo courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art