News — Apr 12, 2023

Margot Gerené has been named new Managing Director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. She and Director Rein Wolfs will form the museum’s statutory Board of Directors, with Wolfs serving as chairman. As Managing Director, Gerené will oversee the museum’s day-to-day operations, as well as its financial affairs. Gerené is currently the museum’s interim Managing Director. Like all other applicants, she went through the standard application procedure. She will officially exchange her interim position for a permanent one on June 1.

Margot Gerené (b. 1971) has held numerous administrative and advisory roles in policy and organizational development and has also served regularly in interim positions, including as interim Managing Director at the Frans Hals Museum (2019-2021) and her current position as interim Managing Director at the Stedelijk. She was also involved in preparing a sector analysis of the visual arts in the municipality of Arnhem and the province of Gelderland in 2019. From 2011 to 2018, Gerené was a member of the Museums, Heritage and Monuments Committee of the Amsterdam Arts Council. While serving in that capacity, she became closely acquainted with the Stedelijk Museum. Gerené co-founded the arts research and consultancy firm Blueyard, for which she has been active since 2015.

Picture Margot Gerené
Managing Director Margot Gerené. Photo: Diana Hoilu Fradique

Annelies van der Pauw, Chairman of the Stedelijk Museum Supervisory Board: “After a diligent search process, Margot Gerené emerged as the most suitable candidate. Margot is a seasoned director; energetic, connecting and decisive. She is fully aware of the museum’s ambitions to strengthen its financial position, pursue a policy that remains both artistically innovative and successful, and to be a better reflection of society as a whole. We are delighted to have found an excellent directorial team in Rein Wolfs and Margot. We are greatly looking forward to working together in the future.”

Margot Gerené: “As interim Managing Director, I was able to get a behind-the-scenes impression of the Stedelijk for several months. And what I saw was an inspired museum organization in the very heart of Amsterdam, the art world and society. A museum that does not shrink from innovation and dialogue, but always embraces it with great respect for the rich past of this wonderful institution. It’s become clear to me that there’s only one place I would trade my highly regarded colleagues at Blueyard consultancy for. Above all, I want to contribute to the sustainable growth of the Stedelijk, being mindful of our environmental footprint as well as our financial sustainability. I also believe that it is crucial for us as an organization to keep inclusion and diversity at the forefront of our agenda. I am grateful to have gained the Supervisory Board’s confidence and I am excited to continue the promising collaboration on a structural basis with Rein and all staff and partners!”

Rein Wolfs, Director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam: “I have come to know Margot in recent months as a delightful sparring partner. I look forward to working with her in the long term and to achieving our shared goals for the Stedelijk Museum. We both have a clear vision for the future, and I am confident that our collaboration will help us realize this vision.”

The new Managing Director was appointed after receiving favorable input from the museum’s works council, and after consulting with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Note to editors: For more information, contact the museum’s Press Office at pressoffice@stedelijk.nl.