The Seattle Aquarium board of directors has appointed Meg McCann as the aquarium's new president and CEO.
McCann joined the aquarium as chief operating officer in 2024, before briefly serving as acting president and CEO in 2025, a role she reassumed in January 2026.
Charles Wright, Jr., Seattle Aquarium board chair, said: "Meg has demonstrated incredible leadership and resiliency in this role since joining the aquarium just two years ago.
"She has twice served as interim CEO and risen to every challenge. Not only is she the right leader to guide the Seattle Aquarium into its new era of conservation leadership, but she also brings the knowledge, experience and passion needed to make that vision a reality."
Since joining the Seattle Aquarium, McCann has led a significant increase in global attendance, with the aquarium now welcoming more than one million people a year.
"I’m deeply honoured and excited to continue leading and supporting the aquarium’s efforts to inspire conservation of our marine environment on the waterfront and in the broader community," said McCann.
As acting president and CEO, McCann has supported innovative initiatives that integrate technology, marine conservation science and sustainability to advance the non-profit’s mission.
These wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts include acquiring a new drone for sea otter studies along the Washington coast, sixgill shark research in Puget Sound, and projects on kelp, marine mammals and ecosystems.
CEO to usher in "new era of conservation leadership"
She has also reaffirmed the aquarium’s commitment to hands-on conservation and species recovery programs, from pinto abalone releases in the Pacific Northwest to Indo-Pacific leopard shark repopulation with the ReShark coalition, including egg care and transport to Indonesia.
"As we head toward the Seattle Aquarium’s 50th anniversary in 2027, there’s so much to look forward to," McCann said. "It’s a chance to honour how far we’ve come while dreaming big about the next 50 years – and I’m incredibly excited to help bring that vision to life."
Images courtesy of the Seattle Aquarium
