Bishop Museum CEO Blair Collis resigned, but the museum is not saying why.
Bishop Museum CEO Blair Collis resigned, but the museum is not saying why.
The museum’s board appointed LindaLee Kuuleilani “Cissy” Farm as interim president and CEO, the board stated in a press release Friday. She is an attorney specializing in commercial litigation, a member of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation review committee, and a Historic Hawaii Foundation board member.
In January, the museum announced it would sell 547 acres in Waipio Valley and the 15-acre Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook. The two were reportedly valued at $10 million. The garden closed Jan. 31.
Collis was with the museum 13 years, starting as the director of the Bishop Museum Press in 2003. He became president and CEO in June 2011. His last day was Friday.
“It has been an honor to have served Bishop Museum over the last 13 years and particularly as president and CEO over the last five years,” Collis said in the release. “I am leaving to pursue new opportunities knowing the museum is in strong and capable hands. I wish the very best to the board of directors and staff of this amazing institution.”
Questions about why he was resigning were directed to the press release, which didn’t address his reasons. His replacement will be found through a nationwide search.
“The Board of Directors of the Bishop Museum want to thank Blair for his many years of service … . We wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Allison Holt Gendreau, chairperson of the museum’s board of directors.
Email Graham Milldrum at gmilldrum@westhawaiitoday.com.