Christopher Browne, who has served as the Smithsonian museum’s acting director since January 2021, will officially take the reins. He had a decorated career in the Navy before stints in airport management at both Reagan National and Dulles. He joined the museum as deputy director in 2017. Charmaine Jefferson will take over as board chair of California Institute of the Arts from Tom Disney, who served in the role for eight years.
Jefferson, an experienced arts administrator, was executive director of the California African American Museum from 2003 to 2014. The art advisory and appraisal firm is launching a new division called Gurr Johns Capital, which will offer loans to individuals, galleries, companies, and institutions designed to increase liquidity, finance acquisitions, or simply bridge a cash flow need. Alessandro Fiorotto will head up the new business.