NEW YORK, NY.- Richard Armstrong, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, announced the appointment of Elizabeth Duggal to serve as the institution’s Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer. Duggal comes to the Guggenheim from the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, where she has served as Deputy Director since June 2014. In her new role, Duggal oversees all operations of the Guggenheim’s landmark museum in New York, as well as administrative responsibilities for overseas affiliate museums and global projects. She succeeds Marc Steglitz, who is retiring in June after 16 years in the position. As Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Duggal will report to Richard Armstrong. She begins on July 9.

Richard Armstrong said, “Elizabeth’s expertise in strategic museum management coupled with her acumen in all aspects of operational administration make her ideally suited for the broad responsibilities she will take on as our new Deputy Director and COO. As a member of the executive group that recently revitalized the Hirshhorn Museum, Elizabeth demonstrated exceptional skill in leading and inspiring a senior management team and working to innovate and integrate the many functions required to run a world-class museum effectively. We welcome her warmly to the Guggenheim.”

Since March 2000, Duggal has held a variety of leadership positions at the Smithsonian Institution, including associate director for public engagement at the National Museum of Natural History, director of the International Museum Professional Education Program, where she led a broad institutional effort to engage the Smithsonian in selected international programs, and associate director for museum resources at the National Museum of the American Indian.

Before joining the Smithsonian, Duggal was an executive for the British Museum Development Trust in London. With a background in banking, she has held positions in several financial institutions, including Fidelity Investment Services Ltd. and American Express Europe Ltd. Duggal graduated from Tufts University and received an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She serves on the board of directors for the US National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM-US), the US nonprofit arm of the Jordan River Foundation, and the Children’s National Medical Center Emeritus Board.