Members of the Tennessee Aquarium‘s Board of Trustees have chosen Andrew Wood as their new president and CEO, beginning on March 31.
Wood will become the fifth person to lead the Aquarium in its history, succeeding Keith Sanford, who retired at the end of 2024.
A historical look at Tennessee Aquarium leadership:
- Bill Flynn (1989-1993)
- Jim Hill (1993-1995)
- Charlie Arant (1995-2015
- Keith Sanford (2016-2024)
- Andrew Wood (2025-Present)
Wood served as the chief operating officer at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa for the past 7 years.
Before going to Florida, he spent 7 years working in external relations at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.
“We are thrilled to have Andy Wood join us as our new leader,” said Scott Pierce, Aquarium’s Board of Trustees chair. “Andy brings the vision, experience, and energy needed to guide the Tennessee Aquarium into the future. We also know that Andy’s collaborative and thoughtful leadership style will be an asset to the greater Chattanooga community.”
The nationwide recruitment process for Wood’s new role attracted a competitive pool of candidates, Pierce said.
“The Tennessee Aquarium’s national reputation as a leader in freshwater conservation, overall guest satisfaction, excellence in animal care, and importance to Chattanooga and the region was universally cited by candidates as the gold standard in our field,” he stated.
Word said he looks forward to collaborating with the Chattanooga community.
“The Tennessee Aquarium is a prestigious leader in conservation, education, and guest experience,” he said. “I am honored to join such a talented team of professionals, volunteers, and community leaders as the organization’s next President and CEO.”
