Lauder Leaves Whitney Post

After 14 years as head honcho, Leonard A. Lauder stepped down on yesterday as chairman of the board of trustees at the Whitney Museum of American Art, according to the New York Times. He remains a trustee and the chairman emeritus, with full voting rights.

In an afternoon meeting, the Whitney board chose two people to share the chairman’s job: Robert J. Hurst, who had been the museum’s president, and Brooke Garber Neidich, a longtime trustee and outgoing vice chairman. Neil G. Bluhm, who had been a vice chairman with Ms. Neidich, is the Whitney’s new president.

Chuck Close, who became the first artist to serve as a Whitney trustee when he was elected in 2000, will be leaving the board. The artist Fred Wilson will be joining it.