MOCA appoints Jonathan Abbott as new chief executive and director

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles appoints Jonathan Abbott as its new chief executive and director. The Los Angeles Times reports the move follows a lengthy search and years of leadership instability at the museum.

Abbott previously worked at GBH in Boston and is described by the New York Times as a former public media leader who oversaw the network producing PBS programs such as “Masterpiece.” Both outlets note that Abbott will become MOCA’s sixth director in a period marked by frequent leadership changes, with the New York Times citing that record since 2008.

While both articles focus on Abbott’s appointment and background in public media, the Los Angeles Times places additional emphasis on the museum’s broader context of leadership turmoil leading up to the selection.