The president and CEO of Calgary’s Glenbow Museum is stepping down to become the director of the Royal Ontario Museum.
Nicholas Bell, who joined in 2019, will finish his tenure at the end of May, the museum said Wednesday.
Originally from Vancouver, Bell handled the Glenbow’s current strategic plan, along with establishing the JR Shaw Free Admission Endowment, making the Glenbow the first major museum in Canada to provide free admission for all.
The Calgary museum says Bell also oversaw the launch of the Glenbow Reimagined revitalization project — worth $205 million — which is expected to reopen in 2027.
“The Board is deeply grateful to Nicholas for his leadership during this significant chapter in Glenbow’s history,” said Lori Van Rooijen, the chair of the Glenbow Board of Governors.
Meanwhile, Melanie Kjorlien has been appointed as the new CEO and is expected to start on June 1, 2026. She is the museum’s current vice-president and a “key leader” at Glenbow for the past 18 years.
The Glenbow board says Kjorlien has provided critical operational oversight of Glenbow Reimagined and is guiding the transition from construction to the development of over 50 new gallery, exhibition, and programming spaces.