SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco announced the appointment of Ed Prohaska as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Prohaska’s appointment follows a five month search led by a recruiting firm based in San Francisco.

“With Ed Prohaska we have found the best possible CFO with which to move forward,” says Max Hollein, Director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. “Ed has deep roots in the financial management of nonprofits and will be a valued partner, operationally and strategically, as we further develop our great institution’s reputation. I know he will set the highest standards of financial control and planning for the Fine Arts Museums.”

Mr. Prohaska joins the museums from the Monterey Bay Aquarium where he served as Chief Financial Officer for the past fourteen years and V.P. of Enterprise Development for the past nine years. At the Aquarium, he oversaw a $78 million operating budget and a $190 million investment portfolio. In addition to accounting and finance he also oversaw IT and property management and was the liaison to outside attorneys. Previously he also oversaw facility operations, sales and merchandising operations. Mr. Prohaska has extensive experience working with nonprofit boards, most recently serving as the Chair of the Finance Committee for the boards of both KQED and the California Association of Museums.

Before joining the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Mr. Prohaska worked in Los Angeles as the Chief Financial Officer and later Chief Operating Officer at the Japanese American National Museum from 1997 through 2002. Prior to that, he was the Director of Finance and Administration at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena from 1994 to 1997, and at the Newport Harbor Art Museum from 1993 to 1994. Mr. Prohaska began his career in corporate banking and public accounting, during which time he became a C.P.A. He received his B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas, and both his MBA in Finance and an M.A. in History from the University of Texas at Austin.

"While I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the incredible team at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, my passion has always been in the arts,” says Ed Prohaska. “The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are among the world’s best museums, with a proud history of collecting, scholarship and exhibitions. To fully achieve its promise, the institution must be top of class in every aspect of its operation and I am thrilled to join Max and his talented team to lead that effort on the finance front.”

Mr. Prohaska will begin his tenure at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco on October 10, 2016.