Chief Executive and Director, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Govan joined LACMA as chief executive and director in 2006. In the role, he oversees art programming as well as the ongoing expansion and upgrade of the museum’s 20-acre campus. During his tenure, LACMA has acquired more than 35,000 works for the permanent collection, doubled gallery space and programs, and more than doubled its average attendance to more than 1 million visitors annually. Govan has raised most of the money needed to fund LACMA’s $750 redesign and overhaul of its Mid-Wilshire campus. He also reportedly moved out of his museum-owned house so it could be sold to raise money to help the museum during the pandemic.

YEARS ON THE LA500: 7