TORONTO.- Bonnie Brooks, Chair of the Royal Ontario Museum Board of Trustees, announced today the appointment of Josh Basseches as the new Director and CEO, following an extensive international search. A museum leader for more than two decades, Basseches brings an extraordinary depth of global museum knowledge and experience to his new role at the ROM.

“Josh is a proven leader with a strong vision for museums in the 21st century. We look forward to welcoming him to the ROM and its passionate community, and working with him to realize our ambitious and exciting plans to grow this important institution,” said Bonnie Brooks.

Basseches joins the ROM from the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, where he is Deputy Director. He played a central role in the decade-long transformation of PEM into one of America’s leading museums, with a reputation for innovation and creativity, as well as in PEM’s recent capital campaign, helping to raise more than $600 million (CDN). Prior to joining PEM, Basseches was Executive Director at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and held senior roles at TDC, a nonprofit management consulting firm and research firm serving museums and educational institutions, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He holds an MBA from Harvard University and is a PhD Candidate in the History of Art & Architecture at the Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

“I am tremendously excited to join the ROM. The Museum is an exceptional Canadian cultural and educational institution that inspires visitors from around the globe. The ROM is one of a few major museums in the world with encyclopedic collections spanning across art, culture, and nature. My vision is to continue to enhance the relevance and impact of the Museum, strengthen our visitor experience, and transform us into one of the top ten museums in the world,” said Basseches.

Basseches is expected to begin his new role in 2016, following the completion of immigration proceedings. He joins the ROM at a dynamic time, with Pompeii set to deliver strong attendance numbers, and an exciting schedule of exhibitions, including Tattoos and Chihuly, scheduled for the coming year.