LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Petersen Automotive Museum announced that Peter Mullin has been elected Chairman to its Board of Directors. Joining him as Vice Chair are Bruce Meyer, one of the museum’s most ardent supporters and David Sydorick, a long-time board member. All three are respected business leaders and avid car collectors. As one of Los Angeles’ leading entrepreneurs and philanthropists, Mullin will lead the museum through sweeping changes in preparation for its 20th anniversary, maintaining its place as the heart of California automotive culture, heritage and design. His task is to raise awareness about the museum on a national and international platform and to educate tomorrow’s automotive and design enthusiasts.
“Peter Mullin is admired worldwide as a businessman, car collector and community leader – his unique ability to merge these three worlds will be a tremendous asset to the museum and we’re thrilled about this announcement,” said Petersen Automotive Museum executive director, Terry Karges. “This is a ‘dream team’ whose vision will help us become one of the world’s most exciting automotive destinations.”
Mullin has a long history of business leadership and philanthropic work; nearly all of his charity endeavors are aimed at improving the community. The 71-year-old Los Angeles native currently serves as the Chairman of M Financial and M Life, a national financial services and insurance company. He is also active on the Boards of Avery Dennison and St. John’s Hospital, is the current Chairman of the Music Center Foundation and is the past Chairman and a current board member for the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Management. Mullin has been instrumental in helping the Archdiocese of Los Angeles raise more than $100 million in endowments for scholarships for inner-city children.
In the automotive world, Mullin currently serves as a Board Member for Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design and is the current President of the American Bugatti Club. Additionally, he is the Founder and Chairman of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Calif., a facility that houses some of the rarest and most beautiful automobiles ever created embodying Mullin’s passion for art deco design and French automobiles. The 2012 International Historic Motoring Awards recognized the Mullin Automotive Museum as one of the leading ‘Museum or Collections of the Year.’ Mullin also won the coveted Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance “Best of Show” in 2011 with a 1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne, which now resides at the museum.
Known as one of America’s preeminent automotive enthusiasts, Bruce Meyer helped Robert and Margie Petersen establish the museum and served as Co-Chairman during the museum’s first decade, when Mullin previously served as Chairman. David Sydorick is a long-time Petersen board member, renowned collector and business leader that donated a number of significant vehicles to the museum. All three like-minded friends – Mullin, Meyer and Sydorick – have worked in lockstep on the Mullin Automotive Museum’s Foundation Board and have a deep-rooted desire to lead the Petersen into its third decade with style, panache and passion.
“I’m honored and excited - this is an opportunity to breathe new life into an icon of Los Angeles’ car culture,” said Peter Mullin. “Outgoing chair, Steve Young, who decided to retire as of December 31, 2012, has given the museum five years of outstanding leadership and guided us through some of the most turbulent economic times in memory. For that we owe him a debt of gratitude and I am so pleased that he will remain on the board. The Petersen has the perfect location, a great building, a fantastic collection and is highly respected. We have exciting plans to grow the collection and make architectural improvements that will make the Petersen a must-see destination for enthusiasts worldwide. Robert E. Petersen built a testament to the automobile, as we approach the museum’s 20th anniversary we will transform it into the world-class experience anyone with a passion for the automobile will want to see.”
Mullin’s new position with the board comes at an exciting time for the museum. For the first time in its nearly 20 year history, the museum’s legendary Vault is now open to the public and has enjoyed record attendance and will remain open indefinitely. Other exhibitions in the museum include an exhibit titled "Aerodynamics: From Art to Science," which runs through May 27, 2013 and presents an entertaining and enlightening visual overview of the landmarks of aerodynamic design. Also on display is “Sculpture in Motion: Masterpieces of Italian Design,” a look at the finest Italian automotive designs from the 1930s through today’s modern supercars in the museum’s grand salon through February 3, 2013. These temporary exhibitions join permanent galleries which cover topics ranging from Hollywood vehicles to alternative power, motorcycles, hot rods, and the Streetscape, which takes visitors through the evolution of Los Angeles and the automobile.
