James Rondeau, President and Director of the Art Institute of Chicago, will return to his position on Monday, June 2, following an internal investigation into a mid-flight incident in April that led to his temporary leave.
The museum leader, who reportedly earns over \$1 million annually, voluntarily stepped aside after an incident aboard an April 18 United Airlines flight from Chicago to Munich. According to reports, Rondeau allegedly consumed alcohol and prescription medication before disrobing during the flight. He was detained by German authorities upon arrival.
In a public statement shared with CBS News, Rondeau expressed remorse over the episode.
“I deeply regret this incident and the impact it has had on the museum, my colleagues, and myself,” he said. “I have dedicated the past 27 years of my professional career to the Art Institute, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue furthering its mission.”
The Art Institute confirmed that an independent review was conducted during Rondeau’s leave, and the board expressed continued confidence in his leadership.
“Board leadership of the Art Institute of Chicago has conducted an independent investigation of this incident and is confident in James Rondeau’s leadership and ability to continue as the President and Director of the museum,” a museum spokesperson stated.
Rondeau began his tenure at the Art Institute in 1998 as an associate curator and was appointed director in 2016. The museum, which houses a collection of roughly 300,000 artworks, is widely regarded as one of the premier cultural institutions in the United States.
