Philadelphia Museum of Art Shakeup Continues: Chief of Staff and CFO Depart Amidst Ongoing Turmoil
The leadership exodus at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) shows no signs of slowing, with two more top executives exiting the institution this week. On Monday, February 9, 2026, the museum’s Chief of Staff, Maggie Fairs, and Chief Financial Officer, Valarie McDuffie, were dismissed, marking the latest chapter in a period of significant instability for one of the city’s most prominent cultural institutions.
Deep Search: Behind the Departures
These resignations come just months after the dramatic firing of former Director and CEO Sasha Suda in November 2025 and the subsequent resignation of Chief Marketing Officer Paul Dien on February 1. While the museum has officially characterized these latest moves as part of a restructuring, sources close to the administration suggest they are directly linked to the fallout from Suda’s controversial tenure and the financial questions that accompanied it.
Valarie McDuffie, who joined the museum in 2023, has been a central figure in recent internal inquiries. Following Suda’s termination, the museum’s board launched an investigation into alleged “unauthorized” salary increases. Court filings from the museum later accused Suda of misappropriating funds by approving her own pay raises—financial maneuvers that would have required oversight from the finance department. McDuffie’s exit suggests the board is looking to make a clean break from the financial governance of that era.
Maggie Fairs, who served as Chief of Staff and Vice President of Communications, was a key lieutenant to Suda, often serving as the public face for the administration’s boldest—and most divisive—initiatives, including the ill-fated rebranding campaign.
Objections and Counter-Narratives
Despite the high-profile nature of these exits, the museum administration has remained tight-lipped. In a brief statement, a spokesperson declined to elaborate on the specific reasons for the dismissals, citing them as an “internal personnel matter.” Supporters of the former administration argue that the board is engaging in a “purge” of Suda’s remaining allies rather than addressing systemic governance issues. Suda herself has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, characterizing the board’s actions as a retaliatory campaign by a “small, corrupt faction” of trustees resistant to modernization.
Additionally, while the removal of these executives might signal a fresh start to some, others worry about the brain drain and loss of institutional knowledge. The dual departure of a CFO and Chief of Staff leaves a significant operational void at a time when the museum is trying to stabilize its finances and public image.
Background: A Season of Instability
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has been in a state of flux for nearly a year. The turmoil peaked in late 2025 with the rollout of a rebranding initiative that changed the institution’s name to the “Philadelphia Art Museum” and introduced the acronym “PhAM.” The $1 million rebrand was widely panned by the public and critics alike, leading to a rare reversal earlier this month when the board voted to restore the traditional “Philadelphia Museum of Art” name.
Daniel Weiss, the former CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art who was brought in as interim director following Suda’s ouster, has been tasked with “stabilizing the institution.” His administration has moved quickly to undo the previous leadership’s signature projects, including the rebrand. The departure of Fairs and McDuffie appears to be the next step in dismantling the administrative structure built by his predecessor.
In a move likely intended to signal a return to its core mission, the museum simultaneously announced the appointment of a new curator on Monday, attempting to pivot the narrative back to art and scholarship as it navigates this difficult transition.
