Leading Executives in Zoos and Game Farms

Shawn Dixon

Interim President & CEO, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Interim chief since March 2025, Dixon is steering SDZWA through major projects including the Denny Sanford Elephant Valley at the Safari Park, described as the organization’s largest and most transformative habitat to date. Previously COO, he was tapped as interim CEO after Paul Baribault stepped down.

Adam F. Falk

President & CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, New York Aquarium)

Became WCS President & CEO on July 1, 2025, leading five NYC wildlife parks and one of the world’s largest field conservation programs across 55+ countries. Previously led the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and served as president of Williams College.

Jim Breheny

Director, Bronx Zoo; EVP, WCS Zoos & Aquarium, Bronx Zoo (Wildlife Conservation Society)

A 50+‑year WCS veteran, Breheny has directed the Bronx Zoo since 2005 and serves as WCS EVP for Zoos & Aquarium; he helped popularize the field through Animal Planet’s docuseries “The Zoo.”

Denise M. Verret

Chief Executive Officer & Zoo Director, Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens

CEO and Zoo Director since 2019 and the first Black woman to chair the AZA Board (its 100th chair) in October 2024; she’s overseeing a campus‑wide redevelopment while elevating LA Zoo’s national profile.

Tom Schmid

President & CEO, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (incl. The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay, Safari Golf Club)

Hired in 2021 to lead a turnaround, Schmid guided the zoo back to full AZA accreditation in March 2023 and continues governance and welfare reforms across the organization.

Brandie Smith, Ph.D.

John & Adrienne Mars Director, Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

A population‑genetics Ph.D. and longtime AZA leader, Smith was named the John and Adrienne Mars Director in Nov. 2021 and has helped revitalize the zoo’s giant panda program and global conservation work.

Megan R. Ross, Ph.D.

President & CEO, Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago)

A 25‑year LPZ veteran and scientist, Ross became President & CEO in 2022 and is known for building the zoo’s research engine and launching tools like ZooMonitor to advance animal welfare.

Michael J. Adkesson, DVM, MBA, DACZM

President & CEO, Brookfield Zoo Chicago (Chicago Zoological Society)

A board‑certified zoo veterinarian, Adkesson became President & CEO in 2021 and is driving Brookfield’s Next Century Plan while maintaining top AZA standards and expanding conservation medicine.

Thane Maynard

Director, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Director since 2006, Maynard is also the longtime host of the nationally syndicated ‘90‑Second Naturalist,’ helping connect millions to wildlife and conservation.

Raymond B. King

President & CEO, Zoo Atlanta

President & CEO since 2010, King has grown annual attendance to about one million and led major capital projects including the African Savanna and the Rollins Animal Health Center.

Jamie Christon

Chief Executive Officer, Chester Zoo (UK)

At the helm since 2021, Christon is delivering Chester’s multi‑year strategy and opened the UK’s largest zoo development—Heart of Africa—in 2025 to spotlight biodiversity loss.

Matthew Gould CMG MBE

Chief Executive Officer, Zoological Society of London (London Zoo & Whipsnade Zoo)

ZSL’s CEO since 2022, Gould is leading the charity’s ‘Restoring Nature’ strategy while running London and Whipsnade Zoos and a global conservation science portfolio.

John Frawley

President & Director, Minnesota Zoo

Zoologist and nonprofit leader, Frawley serves as President/Director, advancing the Zoo’s mission to connect people, animals and the natural world to save wildlife.

Alejandro Grajal, Ph.D.

President & CEO, Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle)

A former WAZA council member and conservation scientist, Grajal has led WPZ since 2016, pioneering empathy‑based engagement and community‑centered conservation.

Hayley W. Murphy, DVM

Executive Director & CEO, Detroit Zoological Society (Detroit Zoo)

Veterinary leader and Great Ape Heart Project founder, Murphy became DZS’s first female CEO in 2021 and oversees nationally recognized animal‑welfare and sustainability programs.

Lisa New

Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Zoo

The Dallas Zoo’s first female chief executive, New took the helm in January 2024 after transforming Zoo Knoxville; she also recently served as AZA Board Chair (Past Chair, 2025).

Tim Morrow

President & CEO, San Antonio Zoo

CEO since 2014, Morrow has driven a high‑growth, marketing‑savvy turnaround—modernizing guest experience (e.g., cashless operations) and launching new conservation initiatives like a coral reef lab.

Lisa Peterson

President & CEO, Houston Zoo

Named President & CEO effective June 2, 2025, Peterson moved from leading the San Diego Zoo Safari Park; she’s known for projects like Walkabout Australia and the forthcoming Elephant Valley.

Luis R. Padilla, DVM, DACZM

President & CEO, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (and Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park)

A board‑certified zoo veterinarian and former Saint Louis Zoo leader, Padilla became Omaha’s President & CEO in Nov. 2022 and has continued the zoo’s national‑best accolades.

Dwight Scott

Dana Brown President & CEO, Saint Louis Zoo

A Missouri native and former San Diego Zoo executive, Scott took over in 2022 as the Dana Brown President & CEO and is advancing WildCare Park (opening 2027) and the Zoo’s Destination Discovery (opening 2026).