Jeff Swanagan, who helped develop the Georgia Aquarium with billionaire Bernie Marcus and turn it into the world's largest fish tank, is taking his expertise to Columbus, Ohio.

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Swanagan, who was hired to create the Georgia Aquarium in 2002, started his career at the Columbus Zoo in 1981 as a zookeeper and was the facility's education director from 1982 to 1987.

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Swanagan, the Georgia Aquarium's executive director and president, has been named executive director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Mike Leven, vice chairman of the Marcus Foundation and a member of the Georgia Aquarium Board of Directors, has been named acting Chief Executive Officer, aquarium officials announced late Tuesday.

Swanagan, who was hired to create the Georgia Aquarium in 2002, started his career at the Columbus Zoo in 1981 as a zookeeper and was the facility's education director from 1982 to 1987.

"Jeff Swanagan joined the Georgia Aquarium when it was still just a dream," Marcus said in a statement. "He was not only involved with its planning from the very beginning, he helped create its structure and brought aboard qualified people to lead it."

"I've watched him grow over the past six years, and I am very proud that he has been chosen to lead a major facility," Marcus added.