The Museum of Contemporary Art announced Thursday that Jonathan Abbott, the former president and CEO of public media organization GBH, has been appointed CEO and Maurice Marciano Director of the Los Angeles museum.
Abbott’s appointment is effective immediately following an international search by MOCA’s Board of Trustees. He succeeds Ann Goldstein, who has served as interim director since August 2025 and will remain with the museum through November as an adviser to Abbott during the transition, according to the museum.
Abbott spent 15 years as president and CEO of GBH, the Boston-based public media organization that produces programs including “FRONTLINE,” “NOVA,” “American Experience” and “Masterpiece.”
During his tenure, Abbott oversaw nearly 800 employees and a $225 million annual operating budget, led a $215 million fundraising campaign and oversaw growth in GBH’s assets from about $225 million to $1 billion, according to MOCA.
“Jon is a builder of mission-driven institutions and a deeply collaborative leader who understands that great creative work depends on trust, resources, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose,” Carolyn Clark Powers, chair of MOCA’s Board of Trustees, said. “He brings the experience and imagination to help MOCA extend its reach, deepen its relationship with Los Angeles, and give artists and curators the strongest possible platform for their ambitious work. As we look toward our 50th anniversary in 2029, I can think of no better partner for this next chapter.”
Abbott will work alongside MOCA’s curatorial team, led by Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs Clara Kim, along with senior curators Bennett Simpson and José Luis Blondet.
“MOCA has always stood for the power of contemporary art to challenge assumptions and open up new ways of seeing the world,” Abbott said. “I’m excited to work with Clara and MOCA’s curatorial team, whose ambition and deep relationships with artists are among MOCA’s great strengths. I want to help bring broader support and audiences to work that is urgent and thought-provoking.”
Abbott holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University.
Goldstein, who began her career at MOCA in 1983 and spent 26 years at the museum, returned as interim director last year. She previously served as director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and deputy director at the Art Institute of Chicago.
MOCA was founded in 1979 and has a collection of nearly 8,000 works. The museum will mark its 50th anniversary in 2029.