Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum has appointed Nicholas R. Bell as its next director and chief executive officer. Bale, who was selected through international selection, will start in the role on 6 July. He succeeds Josh Basseches, who resigned late last year after a decade in the role.
Bell is currently president and CEO of the Glenbow Art Museum, a museum in Calgary, Alberta with a collection of more than 250,000 objects. Since 2019, he has been focused on developing the agency’s strategic plan that “prioritizes financial sustainability, increases inclusion and accessibility, and furthers engagement and reconciliation with Indigenous communities,” according to a press release.
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He also established an endowment to make admission to the museum free, a first for a major Canadian museum, and launched the $250 million Glenbow Reimagined project, which includes renovations to the museum campus and is expected to open in 2027.
“The Board is deeply grateful to Nicholas for his leadership during this important chapter in Glenbow’s history,” Lori Van Rooijen, chair of the Glenbow Board of Directors, said in a statement. “His appointment to one of Canada’s premier museums reflects the strength of Glenbow’s vision and the success of the Glenbow Reimagined campaign.”
Glenbow said in her own announcement that Melanie Kjorlien, the museum’s vice president of interaction and chief operating officer, will succeed Bell in the dual role effective June 1.
The ROM’s permanent collection contains approximately 18 million objects, focusing on art, world culture, and natural history. At the museum, Bell will lead the museum’s finances and operations and lead capital campaign projects and its strategic vision. A press release also noted that his mission is to “foster a culture of creativity and innovation.”
“As Canada’s leading field research institution and global source of new knowledge, the ROM can help answer questions about our shared future,” Bell said in a statement. “I’m excited to be part of this conversation and to serve the people of Ontario.”
Andrew MacLeod, Chairman of the ROM Board of Directors, said in a statement: “As the ROM The value of such a major Canadian cultural institution has never been more evident or relevant. As a museum leader, Nicholas has successfully cultivated broad stakeholder relationships, developed diverse curatorial programs, managed major capital projects, and increased visitation. The Board is pleased to welcome Nicholas to the ROM to build on our current momentum and build a vision that deepens audience connections, furthers key research projects, and advances the museum’s world-class collections, exhibitions, and programs.”
