TORONTO.- Janet Carding, CEO and Director of the Royal Ontario Museum, has decided to leave the ROM on March 31, 2015 after successfully leading the Museum through its Centennial year. A holder of dual Australian and British citizenship, Janet will return to Australia.

A museum professional for more than 25 years, Janet's vision for the Museum has created a dynamic gathering place where something new happens each week. Up to a million people annually come to the ROM to take part in innovative events such as Friday Night Live, and enjoy novel programming combined with critically acclaimed major exhibitions Forbidden City, Mesopotamia and Ultimate Dinosaurs. During her tenure, the ROM brought the stories of the Museum’s own encyclopaedic collections and experts, including the latest scientific research, scholarship on the world’s cultures and natural history, to new audiences.

Janet announces her departure as the ROM begins its second century with a new vision, with funding in place to continue to enhance the visitor experience and new resources through the Centennial Love the ROM campaign. Janet said, “It has been a privilege to work with the wonderful staff and volunteers of the ROM, and I am proud of what we have achieved together. We’ve set a new course and with the continued support of the community the Museum has a bright future ahead of it”.

Bonnie Brooks, Chair of the Board of Trustees said, "The ROM is embarking on its next 100 years with a clear mandate and renewed purpose and we thank Janet for her role in crafting the vision for its future. The ROM of the next century will be at the forefront of combining both the historical and tangible with the social media and digital worlds, and bringing its remarkable content to life in new and enhanced ways, both inside the museum itself, and digitally to the entire world."

The search for a new leader is beginning and Janet will remain with the ROM until March 31, 2015 to complete the celebration of the Centennial year and set the ground for a smooth transition.