Burkle, 2 others to leave Getty

In a changing of the guard that leaves three seats open on the J. Paul Getty Trust’s governing board, trustee Ron Burkle has resigned, trustee Lloyd Cotsen has retired and trustee Agnes Gund has been termed out.

In a Getty statement disclosing the moves Thursday, billionaire investor Burkle cited an “increasingly complex schedule.” Cotsen, an art collector and philanthropist who joined the board in 2002 and became vice chairman in September, gave no reason for his decision.

Gund, a trustee since 1994, cannot serve another four-year term, according to the Getty’s bylaws. But Gund, who is also president emerita of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, will remain on the search committee to seek a new president and top executive for the Getty Trust.

In a statement, board Chairman John Biggs said the Getty will also be searching for new trustees to broaden its diversity and expertise.

The board, stung by controversies over antiquities acquisitions and executive spending in the last year, accepted the resignations of trustee Barbara Fleischman in January and President Barry Munitz the following month. USC President Steven Sample resigned his trustee’s position in late February as well.

Since last June, five new trustees have arrived: Joanne Kozberg, Stewart A. Resnick, William E.B. Siart, Mark S. Siegel and Peter J. Taylor.