Mr Chitham had worked in Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty in a variety of curatorial, management, academic and research roles in leading institutions.
"I've got what some people might call quite a general background but contemporary art is my main passion," he said.
"They will be quite big shoes I'm stepping into.
"What I'll bring to it is something slightly different."
Mr Chitham holds a Masters of Fine Art from the Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, a Diploma in Secondary Teaching, Auckland College of Education and a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Manukau Institute of Technology.
He had been involved with the Artist Alliance and mentoring programmes and had also been a selection panel member, adviser, awards judge and curator adviser within the national arts community.
Tauranga Art Gallery Trust chairman Peter Anderson said the trust was delighted with the appointment.
Mr Anderson said Mr Chitham was "a dynamic, very articulate arts professional with a strong and mature presence".
More than 20 people from throughout New Zealand, as well as art professionals from Argentina, Australia, Germany and Italy had applied for the role.
"That is testimony to the quality and professional standard of Toi Tauranga's art exhibitions and activities and the gallery's emerging presence as one of New Zealand's leading regional art galleries," Mr Anderson said.
Last year, nearly 70,000 people visited the gallery and 9000 young children and students attended its learning programmes.
"The Bay of Plenty is a fantastic place to live, it is experiencing solid economic growth and local residents and families relocating to the region expect to see a vibrant and diverse art world - and that is now emerging with exciting new initiatives under way," Mr Anderson said.
