Bernie Marcus says he's looking for more than a fish fan to be the next director of the Georgia Aquarium: He wants someone who understands business.

The billionaire founder of the world's largest aquarium said the downtown facility is a tourist attraction and a banquet site and needs someone who knows both the importance of keeping the fish healthy and the meeting rooms full.

Brant Sanderlin/AJC (ENLARGE)

'We want someone who knows how to run a business, someone who understands there is an aquarium side and a business side,' Bernie Marcus said.

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"We haven't set the criteria yet for what we want in the next person, but we're not just looking for an aquarium person," he said Wednesday when asked to describe what credentials he is seeking. "We want someone who knows how to run a business, someone who understands there is an aquarium side and a business side."

Marcus' comments came one day after aquarium Executive Director and President Jeff Swanagan, who has been Marcus' right-hand man since early in the aquarium's development, resigned to take the top post at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The comments seemed to widen the field of potential candidates.

Aquarium officials said a search committee is being formed and they hope to pick someone as soon as the next three months but no later than year's end.

Marcus said the new director will have the benefit of taking over a facility with good finances and attendance. Whatever that person's background is, he or she will have to be very people- and customer-oriented.

"We want to have someone who is always looking outside of the box," he said.