TOLEDO, OH.- Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) Board Chair Betsy Brady announced today that Rod Bigelow, TMA’s chief operating officer since February 2008, would serve as interim executive director of the Museum while a national search is conducted. Carolyn Putney, director of collections and curator of Asian art, was named interim deputy director. Both appointments are effective Oct. 1.

Don Bacigalupi, TMA president, director and CEO since 2003 announced last week that he has accepted the directorship of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark.

“The Board has full confidence in the leadership team of the Museum to move forward and continue to connect with the community in meaningful ways during this transition,” Brady said.

Bigelow holds a master of business administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., and has more than 14 years experience in financial and executive management, most recently as the director of administrative and financial services at The Art Institute of Seattle and previously as chief financial officer at the Tacoma Art Museum. While in Tacoma he served as interim executive director while that institution searched for a new director.

Bigelow currently oversees several areas of the Museum’s operations, including finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, maintenance and protective services.

Putney has been with the Toledo Museum of Art in various capacities for 31 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in art history from Florida State University and completed graduate work in Asian art at the same institution. She has taught at the University of Toledo since 1979. Her duties include budgeting and oversight of all aspects of the curatorial department including exhibitions, conservation, registrars, archives, research and publications, the library and the Visual Resources Collection.

“The Toledo Museum of Art has a strong board and excellent group of senior managers who I am confident will assist in a smooth transition,” Bigelow said. “Don Bacigalupi is an incredible talent who was a pleasure to work with and will be greatly missed. We wish him all the best as he embarks on this new career challenge.”

The search process is expected to take from six months to a year. It will be led by the Board with input from staff and other stakeholders.