Whanganui Regional Museum director Eric Dorfman has resigned.
It is a blow not only for the museum, but also for the district as Dr Dorfman was a key player in Whanganui & Partners, the council's economic development arm, and chairman of Visit Whanganui, the tourism marketing body, which has enjoyed much success under his leadership. He is to return to his home country of the United States to take up the role of director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. He leaves the museum on August 28.
Museum trust chairman Adam Kerse said Dr Dorfman had made a significant contribution to the development of the museum during his four years as director.
"Under his supervision, Whanganui Regional Museum has gone from strength-to-strength, with annual visitation climbing nearly 400 per cent."
Mr Kerse added that the museum had received commendations for both business practice and environmental sustainability, lifting the profile of the museum trust's work "nationally and internationally".