The Leonardo museum has undergone its second management change in three years, but this time, administrators say, the power handoff was planned and not related to the museum's performance.

Former executive director Peter Giles will return to retirement in California and associate director Alexandra Hesse will take over the top role, according to a Friday news release.

The Leonardo opened in October after years of uncertainty that followed the public approval of a $10.2 million bond. In 2007, Mayor Ralph Becker temporarily denied The Leonardo the bond money after questioning the nascent institution's business plan.

But a year later, Giles, the former head of The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Calif., was brought in after a management shake-up, and the mayor's office was satisfied with what Becker saw as a more realistic plan for The Leonardo.

Giles said Saturday the museum's board always understood he would move on after The Leonardo opened, though it took longer than anyone expected. He acknowledged the transition plan was "inside baseball" and not generally known to the public.

Giles will continue in an advisory role. "Alex and the board have asked me if I would stay on the board and be involved in development of funding, legislative interaction and strategic advice to Alex and the board," he said.

Hesse joined The Leonardo in 2006 to oversee development of the museum's exhibits and programs.

In 2008, she organized the successful Body Worlds exhibition that gave the public a glimpse of The Leonardo's potential.

Giles said Hesse has always been The Leonardo's "principal leader."

Before joining The Leonardo, Hesse held management roles with the Salt Lake and Sydney Olympic organizing committees as well as the Stills Gallery in Sydney, Australia's foremost multimedia art and contemporary photography gallery, the news release states.

In a statement, Becker said, "Alex has proven herself integral to advancing the forward-thinking goals of The Leonardo. With her stellar track record and outstanding credentials, I look forward to watching this new institution grow under her leadership."

Hesse acknowledged that attendance at The Leo has yet to take off but is a "work in progress."

"We didn't have a large marketing budget and people are just beginning to find out that we are open," Hesse said. "It will take years to build a community around us. Nothing will happen overnight. We will see it grow over time." —

What is it?

The Leonardo is an interactive science, technology and art museum adjacent to the Salt Lake City Main Library at 209 E. 500 South.