The Philadelphia Art Museum has appointed Daniel H. Weiss as its George D. Widener Director and CEO, effective December 1, 2025. Weiss, former President and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (2015–2023), brings decades of leadership experience from major cultural and educational institutions, including presidencies at Haverford College and Lafayette College, and a recent role as Homewood Professor of the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University. The Board of Trustees, led by Chair Ellen Caplan, selected Weiss to guide the museum through at least 2028, providing stability during a transitional period.
This appointment matters because Weiss is a highly respected figure in the museum field, known for steering The Met through financial challenges, operational improvements, and digital expansion. His leadership at the Philadelphia Art Museum—one of the largest U.S. museums with over 240,000 objects and 700,000 annual visitors—signals a commitment to strategic growth, community engagement, and institutional stability. The move also reflects ongoing shifts in top museum leadership as institutions seek experienced executives to navigate post-pandemic recovery and evolving cultural priorities.