Calif. Aquarium Veteran New National Aquarium CEO

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The National Aquarium has a new chief executive officer.

John C. Racanelli will take over the aquarium's fundraising, including a $50 million campaign to build a new building on the National Mall in Washington.

The former CEO at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa and marketing executive at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California has for the past decade been a private consultant for conservation organizations and an advisor on strategic vision and management. He takes over next month from David Pittenger, who has been executive director for the last 15 years.

The National Aquarium marked its 30th anniversary last year by launching a conservation center dedicated to preserving aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Racanelli says he hopes to help the aquarium build on its success as an attraction and an advocate.

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