Bishop Museum has named Timothy E. Johns as president, director and chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1. Bishop Museum

His post takes effect on Oct. 1.

The announcement was made by David Hulihee, chairman of the board of directors.

Johns succeeds Michael Chinaka, who had been serving as interim president since the resignation of William Y. Brown in January. Brown left to take a position as president and CEO of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Chinaka will resume his duties as senior vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer for Bishop Museum.

"Tim has over two decades of leadership experience with environmental and cultural issues in Hawai'i, which will serve him as the leader of Hawai'i's state museum of natural and cultural history," Hulihee said in a news release. "I couldn't be more pleased."

Johns most recently served as chief operating officer for the Estate of Samuel Mills Damon, a position he held since 2000. Prior to that, he was the chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. He has also served at vice president and general counsel for AMFAC Property Development Corp. and has been a lecturer in business law at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and Windward Community College. He's also held the position of director of land protection with the Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i.

Johns was an honors graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, earning a bachelor's degree in history and business economics. He also received a master's degree in economics and Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California.

Active in environmental issues, Johns is a member of the State of Hawai'i Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council. He's also a member of the Rotary Club of Honolulu.

"With Tim's impressive background and experience, he will be able to provide critical links between scientists, resource managers and policymakers to advance important biodiversity conservation efforts that are the driving forces for many of our research programs," said Allen Allison, vice president of Bishop Museum's Science Department, in a news release.