Following a yearlong search, the Museum of Contemporary Art (Moca) in Los Angeles has chosen a new leader: Jonathan Abbott, a former president and chief executive of the Boston public media broadcaster GBH. Abbott started his role Thursday (24 September), replacing interim director Ann Goldstein, who will stay on to assist with the transition through November. Abbott is the first person to hold the joint title of director and chief executive at Moca since 2010.
“I want to help bring broader support and audiences to work that is urgent and thought-provoking,” Abbott said in a statement, outlining his vision for the museum. “I grew up thinking of cultural institutions as public places that belonged to everyone. Moca was built here by artists and civic leaders, and I’m energised by the opportunity to help it remain deeply of this community and for this community.”
Before joining Moca, Abbott spent 15 years leading GBH—the largest producer of programming for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and a major partner of both National Public Radio and the Public Radio Exchange. During his tenure, Abbott led a $215m fundraising campaign and oversaw a growth in assets from $225m to $1bn. He left his post at GBH in 2022, having spent more than 30 years working in public media (including stints at PBS and KQED in San Francisco).
Goldstein will step back after more than a year leading Moca. She had returned to the museum, where she first started her career in 1983 and worked for 26 years, in August 2025. “Moca is in my DNA, and it has been an honour to serve as interim director,” she said in a statement. “This extraordinary institution will always have my deep affection, and I am very happy to advise Jonathan during this transition.”