Georganne Bingham, executive director of Roanoke's new Taubman Museum of Art, has announced that she will retire from that post by the end of 2009.

Bingham, who is in her early 70s, was hired in August 2003 to lead the building project that would eventually result in the state-of-the-art, $66 million museum, which opened to the public on November 8, 2008.

In a press release, Bingham said, "I have decided that the time has come for me to step down from my responsibilities sometime this year to retire. I am ready to enjoy the pleasure and time of retirement, and I look forward to the opportunity to travel, pursue new interests, and visit family and friends."

As executive director, Bingham oversees an annual operating budget of $4 million. The museum also has a full-time staff of 35. During her time in the job, Bingham has raised more than $54 million in capital funds and millions more in endowment and annual giving, according to the press release.

"We hired Georganne knowing that she would, at some point, choose to retire," said John Williamson, president of the board of trustees for the museum.

"We are grateful for the notice of her retirement now, so that we can have a smooth transition of executive leadership, which is certainly best for the institution."

The museum will start looking for a new executive director immediately.