Historian Denise Tonella will succeed Andreas Spillmann in the spring of 2021 as the new Director of the Swiss National Museum.

The Federal Council today confirmed the unanimous decision of the Museum Council: Denise Tonella will be the new Director of the Swiss National Museum. The 41-year-old from Airolo beat 44 other candidates for the position. In an extensive selection process, she impressed both the selection committee and the Museum Council.

‘Creativity, organisational skills, multilingualism and a firm grasp of the digital world were the key factors in the decision. Denise Tonella has successfully managed major projects and is highly skilled in the communication of content. She is the perfect choice to lead the Swiss National Museum into the future,’ says Tim Guldimann, President of the Museum Council.

Denise Tonella has been with the Swiss National Museum since 2010, and has been a curator and exhibition project director since 2014. Originally hailing from Ticino, she has already managed a host of large projects with great success, and was jointly responsible for the comprehensive exhibition ‘Europe in the Renaissance’. This internationally acclaimed exhibition marked the opening of the National Museum’s new building in Zurich in 2016.

Denise Tonella will start her new role in early April, taking over from the current Director, Andreas Spillmann, who has decided to hand over the role of leadership at the Swiss National Museum after 14 years. Denise Tonella will then make her official media debut at a media conference.