Newport Harbor Museum Elects Officers

The Newport Harbor Art Museum has elected a new slate of officers in the wake of what outgoing board Chairman Thomas H. Nielsen called “a series of difficult challenges.”

Over the past two years, the museum’s director, Kevin Consey, and chief curator, Paul Schimmel, left for other posts, and plans for a new museum as developed by Italian architect Renzo Piano were jettisoned.

The new board president is Joan Frances Beall of Corona del Mar, who has been a board member since 1988. Beall, whose husband, Donald, is chief executive officer of Rockwell International, also serves on the boards of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

“We are delighted that the board has elected such a strong leader,” said Michael Botwinick, the museum’s new director.

Other officers include: James B. Pick, vice president, art and education; Peter Leider, vice president, development; Eugene C. White, vice president, planning; Charles J. Diamond, treasurer; and James V. Selna, general counsel. Selna recently argued the museum’s successful challenge of an anti-obscenity pledge that the National Endowment for the Arts was attempting to require.

Five new board members, affiliated with development companies and businesses in the area, also were announced: Nancy Baldwin, of the Baldwin Co.; Susie Hernandez of the Jordan Development Co.; Mark Kehke of Ahmanson Developments Inc.; Anwar Soliman of the American Restaurant Group; and George Thagard of Thagard Research.