Columbus Zoo names Texas State Aquarium leader Tom Schmid new CEO

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s board has named Tom Schmid, the longtime leader of the Texas State Aquarium, as its next president and CEO.  

Schmid, 58, has been the president CEO of the aquarium in Corpus Christi, Texas, for more than two decades. 

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The Columbus Zoo board called a special meeting Tuesday, where they formally named Schmid to the leadership role. 

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The selection Schmid as the zoo’s next leader follows a national search and comes more than six months after the top two zoo executives resigned amid investigations into their behavior after a Dispatch report revealed their personal use of zoo assets.

Forensic audits have since revealed improper spending and questionable business practices by former CEO Tom Stalf and former chief financial officer Greg Bell resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in zoo losses.  

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Zoo Board Chairman Keith Shumate said Schmid is widely acclaimed throughout the zoo and aquarium industry. 

“I believe that we have found an individual with the experience to lead this zoo and take it to the next level," Shumate said in zoo press release. "In getting to know Tom, I am struck not only by his track record as a leader but also his skills as a listener. I am excited for this community to get to know him and for the Columbus Zoo to move forward under his leadership."

Former longtime zoo director Jerry Borin came out of retirement in late March to lead the zoo on an interim basis while the search for a new director was underway.  

jsmola@dispatch.com