The Buffalo AKG Art Museum has appointed its current chief curator Cathleen Chaffee as artistic director and promoted deputy director Jillian Jones to executive director. Both take up their roles in November, promising a fresh approach at this pivotal moment.

“Over the past twelve years, Jillian Jones and Cathleen Chaffee have each had a transformative impact on this institution,” said Alice F. Jacobs, museum board president. “The talent we needed was already here.”

The co-leadership model reflects how the museum is evolving into a more complex institution as it implements its new strategic plan, positioning itself as an agile and globally engaged cultural hub.

Combined, Jones and Chaffee bring over three decades of experience to their roles. They successfully navigated the $230 million expansion in 2023, which saw visitor numbers rise to a record 340,000 post-reopening.

The change comes after former director Janne Sirén's controversial departure amid allegations involving a low-interest museum loan for his personal home. Despite these issues, local media reports suggest the loan had been paid off by the time of Sirén’s resignation.