HUNTINGTON, WV.- The Huntington Museum of Art has named Geoffrey K. Fleming as its new Executive Director beginning July 1, 2015, according to Monte Ward, President of HMA's Board of Trustees and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Cabell Huntington Hospital. Fleming will come to the Huntington Museum of Art from the Southold Historical Society, Inc., in Southold, N.Y., where he has served as Director since 2003.

As Director of the Southold Historical Society, Inc., Fleming is in charge of day-to-day operations and a paid staff of five in addition to more than 150 volunteers. His accomplishments at the Southold Historical Society include creating an award-winning publications program responsible for several scholarly publications. Under his leadership, he formed the first Fundraising Committee at Southold Historical Society and almost doubled the organization's fine art collection.

Don Van Horn, member of HMA's Board of Trustees and Chair of the HMA Executive Director Search Committee, was very impressed with Fleming's accomplishments and work history.

"From the more than 80 applications we received for this position, the search committee managed to identify a select group of highly qualified individuals," Van Horn said. "Geoffrey Fleming emerged through an extremely rigorous review process as our leading candidate for the position of Executive Director. His credentials are impressive and his very apparent dedication to the Southold Historical Society distinguished him from all other applicants. Everyone on the search committee is confident that Geoff will bring that same dedication to the Huntington Museum of Art. We feel very good about his selection and we look forward to working with him."

Fleming earned his Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation in 1996 at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va., where he graduated with honors and was awarded the J. Binford Walford Scholarship in Architecture. He earned his Master of Arts in Arts Administration in 1999 from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he wrote his thesis titled "Museum Shops: A Study."

Fleming replaces Margaret Mary Layne, who served as HMA Executive Director from July 2002 until October 2014 when she left to become City Manager/Chief of Staff for the City of Huntington. Harriette Cyrus began her term as Interim Executive Director at HMA in October 2014 and will remain in that position until Fleming arrives in July.

Fleming is affiliated with many professional organizations, including the American Alliance of Museums of which the Huntington Museum of Art is an accredited member.