New York, NY – The Museum of American Finance announced it has begun the search for a new president/CEO to provide leadership in advancing a compelling vision for the Museum in partnership with the staff and trustees. Key issues include expanding the Museum’s board of trustees, broadening the base of ongoing support, refining the exhibitions and educational program, and increasing the Museum’s visibility.
Lee Kjelleren, who joined the Museum as executive director in 2004, informed the board he will step down from the president/CEO position in June. Under Mr. Kjelleren’s stewardship, the Museum expanded from a modest one-room gallery at 26 Broadway to 30,000 sq. ft. of space in the former headquarters of the Bank of New York at 48 Wall Street, where it opened on January 11, 2008. He negotiated a long-term lease and arranged for architects, a general contractor and a design and fabrication team, and was executive curator of five permanent and two temporary exhibits, curating in particular the exhibit on American Entrepreneurship in the Museum’s new home. He also implemented an organizational name change (from the Museum of American Financial History to the Museum of American Finance) to appeal to a broader audience and better reflect the Museum’s role as an interpreter and explicator of current financial issues.
“Lee’s great accomplishment has been to bring the Museum to its splendid new home at 48 Wall Street, re-designing it for an exciting future,” said Museum Chairman John E. Herzog. “This required tremendous thoughtful effort, and the board appreciates this contribution greatly.”
About the Museum of American Finance
The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is the nation’s only public museum dedicated to finance, entrepreneurship and the free open market system. With its extensive collection of financial documents and objects, its seminars and educational programming, and its publication and oral history programs the Museum portrays the breadth and richness of American financial history, achievement and practices. The Museum is located at 48 Wall Street, at the corner of William Street, and is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to humanresources@financialhistory.org. For more information, visit www.moaf.org.