ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Anchorage Museum Association has begun an international search for a new director and chief executive officer of the association and the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. The new director will replace current Museum Director James Pepper Henry, who recently accepted a position as director of the Heard Museum in Phoenix.

The AMA board of trustees has selected the San Francisco-based firm m/Oppenheim Associates to conduct the search. m/Oppenheim Associates has successfully completed searches for the directors of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco; Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio; San Antonio Museum of Art; Experience Music Project Museum, Seattle; and many other arts and culture nonprofit organizations.

“The AMA is committed to finding new leadership to take this outstanding museum into the future,” said Susan Knowles, AMA board president. “It will be an incredible opportunity for a new leader with a dynamic mix of nonprofit management experience, entrepreneurial vision and community awareness to build upon the museum’s unique position as Alaska’s premier art, history and science institution.”

Knowles expects the search to take several months. Pepper Henry will remain as Anchorage Museum director until July 5, and Chief Curator Julie Decker will then serve as interim director until the position is filled.