(New York, May 31, 2001)--The Metropolitan Museum of Art today announced a series of organizational changes for its Communications Department, designed to reflect and encourage the department's broadened responsibilities in the area of museum-wide marketing. The changes take effect immediately.
Harold Holzer, who since 1996 has held the title of Vice President for Communications, was promoted to the newly created post of Vice President for Communications and Marketing. In addition to serving as the Metropolitan's chief spokesman and overseeing a department responsible for museum press relations, advertising, and government affairs, Mr. Holzer will also coordinate the Metropolitan's marketing efforts across a broad range of inter-departmental activities. As chair of the Museum's Marketing Task Force, he will continue to work to bring curatorial and administrative staff together to forge strategies to market cohesively both the Museum and its programs.
In making the announcement, Philippe de Montebello, Director of the Metropolitan, commented: "Since he joined the Museum nearly nine years ago, Harold Holzer has reinvigorated and enhanced the Met's communications efforts and heightened awareness of its programs to an ever-widening audience throughout the city, the nation, and the world. In so doing, he has earned the respect of both the media and of his colleagues. We are most pleased to recognize his groundbreaking efforts in the field of museum marketing, and officially to make this area an important part of his responsibilities."
Added David McKinney, President of the Metropolitan: "The Metropolitan serves a broad, and growing range of audiences, and must bring a consistent and effective
message to all of them. Harold Holzer, a proven leader in his field, is ideally suited to broaden the crucial efforts of his department and further build on the
effectiveness of our communications program."
Under the department's new organizational structure, Elyse Topalian, who first joined the Metropolitan in 1986, will assume the title of Chief Communications Officer, with responsibility for managing the publicity and promotion campaigns for the Museum's exhibitions, installations, and programs. Earlier, she served as a Public Information Officer, then Special Assistant to the President, Assistant to the Director and President for Special Projects, Manager and Deputy Chief of Communications and, since 2000, Chief of Media Relations. Earlier in her career, she was the U.S. editor of FMR magazine and assistant editor at Harvard University Press, in addition to publishing two award-winning books for young adults as well as numerous articles on the arts and translations of essays and stories from Russian.
"The Communications Department at the Metropolitan is blessed with an extraordinary staff of professionals who are among the best in their fields," Mr. Holzer said. "Elyse Topalian's knowledge of the museum, its collections, and art in general, make her ideally suited to assume the post of Chief Communications Officer and build on her superb record in publicity and promotion."
Mr. Holzer announced further that Jennifer Oetting, currently the Advertising and Budget Manager, will become Advertising and Marketing Manager in the departmental restructuring. She will serve as the coordinating officer of the Marketing Task Force and continue in her role as advertising liaison, working together with the Metropolitan's advertising agencies. She joined the Metropolitan Museum in 1993.
"Jennifer Oetting's work in advertising has helped build the effectiveness of our audience-building print and broadcast campaigns, Mr. Holzer said. "She is well positioned to extend her work to the related field of marketing. The department—and the Museum—are fortunate to have this fine professional to work on our growing marketing efforts."
Harold Holzer joined the Metropolitan as Chief Communications Officer in 1992 after eight years as executive vice president for public affairs at the New York State Urban Development Corporation. Previously, he had served as director of creative services and public information at WNET/Channel 13, after five years as a press secretary and public relations counselor in government and politics. Holzer is also an award-winning historian who has written or edited 18 books, several monographs, more than 20 chapters in books, and hundreds of articles in both scholarly journals and popular magazines on Abraham Lincoln and the political
culture of the Civil War era. He is a member of the New York State Archives Partnership Trust Board, appointed by Governor Cuomo and re-appointed by Governor Pataki, and a member of the United States Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, appointed by President Clinton.
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