LOS ANGELES.- The J. Paul Getty Trust announced today that the chair of the Board of Trustees, John Biggs, has announced his plans to retire from the Board no later than October 31, 2006. The board's Governance Committee is expected to nominate a successor who will be elected at the board's September meeting.

In announcing his decision to step down, Mr. Biggs said, "This was not an easy decision, but continuing heavy responsibilities as chair of the Getty, combined with growing responsibilities at other organizations with which I'm associated, and my physical location on the East coast, made me realize it was time for me to turn over the reins to a new chair."

Mr. Biggs said he firmly believes the Board has made great progress in dealing with issues involving governance, and claims by Italy and Greece for certain antiquities in the Getty's collection.

"We have had to grapple with serious challenges over these past two years. Clearly mistakes were made and they had to be corrected. I'm proud of the actions taken by our board to implement new policies and strengthen others that will improve governance and transparency. We are on the right course as we move forward," said Mr. Biggs.

The Board of Trustees voted earlier this year to limit the chair to one three year term. Mr. Biggs' term would have ended next June, at which time he had planned to retire from the board, indicating he felt the outgoing chair should retire so that the new chair has the ability to put their own imprint on the position.

The Board's Governance Committee, headed by Trustee Joanne C. Kozberg, is charged with the responsibility of nominating a chair-elect, which going forward will be done one year before the current chair's term ends. This policy was adopted by the Board to enhance the Getty's leadership transition process.