Easton Woman Named President of Maritime Aquarium

EASTON, CT — Maureen Hanley, a businesswoman with extensive professional and charitable involvement in Fairfield County, is the new president and chief executive officer of The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

Hanley was chosen unanimously on Nov. 7 by the Executive Committee of the Aquarium’s Board of Trustees. Her first day will be Mon., Nov. 12.

The Easton resident is the eighth president – and third woman to hold the position – in the 30-year history of the popular Connecticut family attraction. She replaces Dr. Brian Davis, who left in May.

Hanley comes to the Aquarium as a former community-banking executive who specialized in commercial lending. Most recently, she was a senior vice president-team leader of United Bank for the past four years. She previously had risen to vice president, head of commercial real estate, at Fairfield County Bank and senior vice president and co-chair of the SNE Diversity Council for Commerce Bank/TD Bank.

Maritime Aquarium Board Chairman Michael Widland said the Aquarium will benefit from Hanley’s extensive business experience – especially in finance, construction and change management – combined with her broad connections in the community.

“For years, Maureen has been an asset to Fairfield County in so many ways, and we’re thrilled to say that she is now The Maritime Aquarium’s asset,” Widland said. “She knows the Aquarium; she knows this community; she knows the people; she has celebrated leadership skills; and she understands the issues facing the Aquarium in the next few years.”

The Maritime Aquarium is about to embark on large changes in response to a federal project to replace the Walk railroad bridge that runs between the Aquarium’s main building and its IMAX Theater. The multi-year replacement of the bridge is expected to begin in about a year. Aquarium officials recently negotiated with state and federal officials for a “functional replacement” agreement to build a new 4-D theater (in place of the IMAX Theater, which must be razed) and to relocate and fortify elements of the Aquarium to be lost and impacted during the bridge work.

“We have been making visits to The Maritime Aquarium a family tradition for years, so – while my new task is to understand and lead the Aquarium as its president – I also know it as a mother,” she said. “I know the impact it can have on one child, and on a classroom of students. We will continue to pursue those life-changing experiences – for individual children, and in ways that continue to help close the achievement gap in our schools.”

Hanley was born on Long Island, grew up in New Fairfield, and graduated from the University of Connecticut.

The selection process for a new president began earlier this year when Davis announced his plan to return to The Georgia Aquarium, where he had been on that institution’s original founding leadership team. The global executive-recruiting firm of Korn Ferry helped a special committee of Board members with the search.

Photo of Maureen Hanley contributed.