Art Power
Big change at MFAH: Rich Kinder elected new chairman of renowned museum's board
It comes as no surprise to Museum of Fine Arts, Houston observers that today the board of trustees unanimously elected Rich Kinder, a life trustee, as its new chairman. Kinder takes up the three-year post as successor to Cornelia Long, who held the position for two full terms or six years.
Co-founder, chairman and CEO of Kinder Morgan, Kinder has long been active with the museum. He has chaired the long range planning committee and has served on the executive and finance committees since becoming a trustee in 1988. He chaired the search committee that recruited director Gary Tinterow in 2011. Kinder and his wife, Nancy, chaired the MFAH Grand Gala Ball in 2001.
While Long is stepping down, she is not stepping out of the museum purview. As a life trustee, she will head the future capital and endowment campaign for the museum’s planned campus redevelopment.
In a prepared statement, Tinterow noted, “All of us recognize the sound guidance that Rich Kinder has provided over a broad range of capacities on the MFAH board, most recently as chair of the long range planning committee.
"We are profoundly grateful to Rich for ensuring a strong transition from the distinguished governance that Cornelia Long has provided in her tenure as chairman.”