CLEVELAND (May 17, 2023)— Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G), the combined entity of The Holden Arboretum and The Cleveland Botanical Garden, today announced Edward Moydell as its next president and CEO effective September 1st.

Moydell will be the third president and CEO in the organization’s nearly 10-year history.

Moydell has served as president and CEO of the Bloedel Reserve since 2010. The Reserve is an internationally renowned public garden and forest preserve located just west of downtown Seattle on Bainbridge Island. With its mission of enriching peoples’ lives through a premier public garden of natural and designed Pacific Northwest landscapes, Bloedel Reserve has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Best North American Botanical Gardens by USA Today. Moydell brings exceptional experience in horticulture, fundraising, historic cultural institutions, and organizational change.

“I am delighted and honored to be appointed the next CEO of Holden Forests & Gardens,” said Moydell. “I have two passions in life: plants and people. This role will allow me to bring those passions together in powerful ways. With an urban campus and a rural campus, HF&G has the unique opportunity to meaningfully connect people to nature and build community in myriad ways. I’m thrilled to join a strong organization poised for even greater success. I look forward to partnering with the excellent team to realize the exciting vision for transformation illustrated in the strategic plan.”

The selection of Moydell is the culmination of an executive search process led by the board’s Executive Search Committee of ten directors chaired by Board Chair Tom Anderson. The national search considered a diverse pool of talented candidates for the position. Koya Partners, an executive recruiting firm that specializes in mission-driven search, partnered with Holden Forests & Gardens’ board to conduct the search.

“Ed brings a demonstrated track record of success, along with the energy and innovative spirit to lead Holden Forests & Gardens into its exciting next chapter,” said Tom Anderson. “Ed’s experience within the public garden industry as a strategist, communicator, and fundraiser will enable him to elevate the mission of Holden Forests & Gardens, which is one of the most significant cultural and environmental organizations in this region.”

Moydell previously created a research and education center dedicated to public garden excellence, education, and research at the University of Delaware. He earned two degrees in public garden management, including a Master of Science through the Longwood Graduate Program. Moydell is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of public garden leaders and serves on the Selection Committee of the Longwood Fellows Program and is an active member of the American Public Gardens Association. He and his wife, Erin, and children, Elvis and Phoebe, look forward to moving and plugging into the Cleveland community later this summer.

About Holden Forests & Gardens
Holden Forests & Gardens is made up of two of Northeast Ohio’s most important environmental and cultural institutions — the Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden — whose mission is to connect people with the wonder, beauty, and value of trees and plants, to inspire action for healthy communities. One of the largest public gardens in the country, Holden Forests & Gardens has over 20,000 member households and an annual attendance of over 300,000 for whom we strive to provide inspirational and educational visitor experiences. Holden’s science, conservation, and urban forestry work is widely acclaimed and helping to save native trees in the Great Lakes region and beyond. For more information, visit holdenfg.org.

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