San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance interim exec named new president, CEO

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance on Thursday named interim president and CEO Shawn Dixon as the organization’s new top executive.

Dixon took over in the interim role for the past seven months after serving as the organization’s chief operating officer for nearly a decade. Former president and CEO Paul Baribault stepped down in March after nearly five years in the position.

“Shawn’s deep roots in the San Diego community, combined with his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to our mission, made him the clear choice to lead San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance,” said Steve Simpson, chair of the alliance’s board of trustees. “After an extensive global search, it became evident that Shawn’s vision, passion and ability to inspire collaboration were exactly what we needed to guide t