April 29, 2026

Seattle Aquarium

McCann

Seattle Aquarium has named Meg McCann as president and CEO.

“I'm deeply honored and excited to continue leading and supporting the Aquarium's efforts to inspire conservation of our marine environment on the waterfront and in the broader community,” McCann said.

A lifetime love of the ocean brought McCann to the Seattle Aquarium in 2024. She served as chief operating officer before briefly serving as acting president and CEO in 2025, ahead of the Ocean Pavilion's grand opening. She reassumed the role of acting president and CEO in January 2026.

“Meg has demonstrated incredible leadership and resiliency in this role since joining the aquarium just two years ago,” Charles Wright, Jr., Seattle Aquarium Board chair, said. “She has twice served as interim CEO and risen to every challenge. Not only is she the right leader to guide the Seattle Aquarium into its new era of conservation leadership, but she also brings the knowledge, experience and passion needed to make that vision a reality.”

Since joining the Seattle Aquarium in 2024, McCann has overseen a dramatic rise in visitors from around the world, with the aquarium now welcoming more than one million people a year. She has also supported many innovative initiatives that blend technology, marine conservation science and sustainability to advance the nonprofit's mission.

McCann has lived in Seattle for 26 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Hawai'i and a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law. She is currently completing an Executive MBA at University College of Dublin Smurfit Graduate Business School.