The Philadelphia Art Museum has appointed Daniel H. Weiss, former president and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as its new director and CEO, effective December 1. Weiss, who led the Met for eight years until 2023 and most recently served as a professor and senior adviser at Johns Hopkins University, will guide the museum through at least 2028. His appointment follows the abrupt ouster of previous director Sasha Suda, who was terminated for cause on November 4 and has since sued the museum, alleging board members falsely accused her of misusing funds. The museum’s board chair, Ellen Caplan, praised Weiss’s leadership experience but did not address Suda’s dismissal.
The controversy surrounding Suda’s sudden firing and her lawsuit casts a shadow over Weiss’s appointment, raising questions about governance and transparency at the institution. The museum, which recently rebranded from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Philadelphia Art Museum, faces the challenge of restoring stability and trust among staff, stakeholders, and the community. Weiss’s track record at the Met positions him as a stabilizing force, but the unresolved legal dispute and board tensions could complicate his tenure.