San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance interim exec named new president, CEO

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance on Thursday named interim president and CEO Shawn Dixon as the organization’s new top executive.

Dixon took over in the interim role for the past seven months after serving as the organization’s chief operating officer for nearly a decade. Former president and CEO Paul Baribault stepped down in March after nearly five years in the position.

“Shawn’s deep roots in the San Diego community, combined with his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to our mission, made him the clear choice to lead San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance,” said Steve Simpson, chair of the alliance’s board of trustees. “After an extensive global search, it became evident that Shawn’s vision, passion and ability to inspire collaboration were exactly what we needed to guide the organization into the future.”

The organization credited Dixon with overseeing the development of several major projects at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, such as Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks, Walkabout Australia and Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.

The latest project is the upcoming Denny Sanford Elephant Valley, which is set to open at the Safari Park early next year.

Along with his work with the alliance, Dixon serves on a number of local boards and committees, including the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Committee and the San Diego Tourism Authority, where he is a past chair of the board.

Dixon’s background includes leadership roles with Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Vail Resorts Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Sacramento, and is a professional fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

“I am deeply honored to lead San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and to continue building on our legacy of conservation and community impact,” Dixon said. “San Diego is not just where we’re headquartered – it’s where we live, and it’s a community that has embraced our mission to protect wildlife and inspire action. Together, we can create a brighter future for all life on Earth.”

The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcome 5.5 million visitors annually, alliance officials said.

City News Service contributed to this report.