Georgia Aquarium president resigns

Georgia Aquarium’s third president in two years unexpectedly resigned Tuesday.

Aquarium officials said Anthony Godfrey, who joined the aquarium as chief financial officer in 2005, the year it opened, is leaving for personal reasons. They would not elaborate, saying there would be no interviews and no additional information released before a new president is named.

Godfrey moved into the role of president and chief operating officer in 2009.

“I leave with deep appreciation for the employees and management team, and with gratitude to my mentor, Bernie Marcus, who gave me the incredible opportunity to lead not only the world’s largest, but a world-class aquarium,” Godfrey said in a press release. “Being president of the Georgia Aquarium has been a memorable experience that I will cherish forever.”

Godfrey replaced Mike Leven, who left the aquarium to join the Las Vegas Sands Corp. in 2009.  The aquarium’s first leader, Jeff Swanagan, left in 2008 to lead the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in his home state of Ohio. Swanagan died of a heart attack in 2009.

Godfrey, an accountant with a history in software, telecom and hotel businesses, took the helm at the aquarium in the middle of a $110 million expansion, set to open later this year. It will house a new bottlenose dolphin exhibition, a 1,600-seat theater and eventually will include more programs for visitors to interact with animals.

The aquarium drew 2.2 million visitors in 2009, holding to the same level as the year before, even as many attractions struggled during the recession. Attendance peaked at 3.6 million in 2006, the first full year the aquarium was open.