Museum Association Names New President

The American Association of Museums, in Washington, has named Ford Watson Bell, who previously led the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, as its new leader, reports The Washington Post.

Mr. Bell, 57, most recently ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate, and was president of the heart organization from 1995 to 2005. He is the grandson of James Ford Bell, founder of General Mills.

Mr. Bell will join an organization whose 3,000 members are grappling with challenges such as how much to pay top executives and how to finance expansion of their buildings, the newspaper reports.

“For all nonprofits, governance is an important issue,” Mr. Bell tells the Post. “The AAM does not set guidelines on salary issues. But everyone needs to be transparent.”

Mr. Bell replaced Edward H. Able Jr., who led the organization for 20 years before he retired in 2006.

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