SANTA FE, NM.- The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum announced today that Anne Marion, the founder of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, who has led the organization through nearly twenty years of growth as Chair of the Board of Trustees, is now retiring. Mrs. Marion will assume the title of Founder and Chair Emeritus while the previous Board President, Roxanne Decyk has been appointed the new Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Under the leadership of Mrs. Marion, the Museum has grown from the initial galleries to include a research center housing a library and archive, an education facility for public programs and classes, and O’Keeffe’s two historic homes and studios in northern New Mexico, at Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch. While stepping away from active involvement, Anne remains committed to the Museum.

“Over the course of her 20 years at the O’Keeffe Museum, Mrs. Marion has proven time and again that she is a consummate connoisseur and patron of the arts,” said Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Director Robert A. Kret while making the announcement. “She has led a talented team of directors and curators in establishing the Museum at the highest professional level, rapidly building an astonishing collection, and promoting an ambitious vision.”

Kret continued: “I am certain that Roxanne, an accomplished global executive with an impressive roster of boards to her credit, will carry on this tradition of excellence. I look forward to continuing to work with Roxanne in her new role in the years ahead.”

Ms. Decyk retired from The Royal Dutch Shell Group in December 2010, after holding a number of senior executive roles including serving on the Shell Group’s executive committee from 2005 to 2009.

She is an independent director of Digital Globe, Orbital ATK and Ensco Plc and serves on the board of Albany Park Theater Project in Chicago in addition to her O’Keeffe Museum service.

“I don’t think one can overstate the importance of Anne’s vision in establishing the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, whether for art lovers, scholars, or for residents of Santa Fe and the State of New Mexico,” said Ms. Decyk. “In the next few months, we will be refining and prioritizing our strategy and communicating it to the museum family. We have been blessed with Anne Marion’s generosity and determination to create a showplace for Georgia O’Keeffe’s legacy. She has now passed the baton to us to realize the full potential of this wonderful institution.”

Mrs. Marion commented: “It has been remarkably rewarding to be able to found the museum, to preserve the collection, and to ensure a permanent home for the legacy of one of America’s greatest artists.”