Dallas Zoo appoints its first female CEO

DALLAS — The Dallas Zoo named its new CEO on Monday -- the zoo's first female CEO in its 135-year history.

Lisa New will begin her new role as CEO on Jan. 15, 2024. She previously served for the past 10 years as the CEO and president at Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee. 

“It is a great honor and responsibility to be entrusted with the legacy that is Dallas Zoo,” New said in a statement issued by the zoo on Monday. “During my initial meetings with the search committee, it quickly became apparent that the Dallas team and I shared the same values. That is, a strong commitment to the wellbeing of our animals, our staff, and our guests to foster a culture that engages our community and protects wildlife."

New will be succeeding Dallas Zoo's last CEO, Gregg Hudson, who died in early 2023 after almost 17 years in the position. The zoo says Hudson was someone New often recognized as one of her mentors.

"Several years ago, my friend and mentor, the late Gregg Hudson, inspired me to align my passion, profession, vocation and mission; if you are good at it, if the world needs it, and you get paid for it, that’s not a livelihood, that is your purpose," New said. "It has guided me ever since, and I am excited to begin this chapter with an iconic institution that has a long history of setting the standard that others follow.”

New began at Zoo Knoxville at an entry-level position on the zoo's conservation science team before ascending the ranks into leadership roles and eventually landing the roles of CEO and president. Under her leadership, the zoo developed a campus master plan, a rebranding effort, a $39 million capital campaign and many construction projects.

"Our search committee felt we had an enormous task in front of us back in May when we began a national search for the Dallas Zoo’s next leader," said Dawn Moore, Chair of the Dallas Zoo Board of Directors, in a statement. "Lisa quickly rose to the top of our list given her impressive career accomplishments that represent everything we were seeking in our new CEO."

Moore added that New's forward thinking and ingenuity about the role zoos can play is what the Dallas Zoo needs as it moves into the next phase of its future. 

“Lisa has been a visionary leader who changed the trajectory for Zoo Knoxville,” says Russ Watkins, incoming Chair of the Zoo Knoxville Board of Directors. “Over the last 10 years, she has successfully executed an ambitious plan that transformed our zoo. From the time she took the helm in 2013, our attendance has increased by 52 percent and our revenue has grown by 105 percent. She has laid a foundation that will ensure we continue to thrive, and she should be very proud of her legacy here in Knoxville.”