Indianapolis Zoo CEO Dr. Rob Shumaker to step down March 6 after brief leave

Leadership change follows unexplained absence

The Indianapolis Zoo is preparing for a leadership transition after President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rob Shumaker took a leave of absence in mid-February and later indicated he will step down from the top post on March 6, 2026. The zoo has not released a public explanation for the leave.

Zoo officials have said day-to-day operations will continue without interruption during the transition. As part of interim operational planning, the Indianapolis Zoo Board of Trustees promoted John Gullion to chief operating officer. Gullion previously served as senior vice president of operations, a role he has held since 2023.

What is known about timing and roles

Shumaker has served as the zoo’s president and later assumed CEO responsibilities after a long-planned leadership succession from former executive Mike Crowther, who retired in January 2020. Shumaker joined the Indianapolis Zoo in 2010 and has been associated with the institution for more than 15 years.

The February announcement of Shumaker’s leave and the concurrent operational promotion for Gullion are the latest confirmed steps taken publicly by zoo leadership. The transition date of March 6 places the change within weeks of the leave becoming public.

Operational continuity and governance

The Indianapolis Zoo operates as a nonprofit organization governed by a board of trustees. In nonprofit governance structures, executive changes are typically managed by a board that oversees institutional strategy, leadership selection, and continuity planning, while senior staff handle daily operations.

In this case, the zoo has emphasized continuity of guest-facing operations while not providing additional details about internal personnel matters. The appointment of a chief operating officer can be a mechanism to stabilize operations during an executive transition by consolidating oversight of day-to-day functions under a single leader.

Background events referenced in prior zoo statements

Separate from the 2026 leave, zoo leadership previously addressed an incident in March 2025 in which Shumaker sustained an injury to a finger while feeding a chimpanzee through a mesh barrier. Zoo leadership said at the time that he received medical attention and did not suffer lasting effects.

What to watch next

• Whether the zoo names an interim president and CEO or begins a search for a permanent successor ahead of, or after, March 6.
• How responsibilities are divided between the board of trustees and the executive team during the transition.
• Any additional public communication clarifying the leadership structure and timeline for a permanent appointment.

The zoo has stated that daily operations will remain uninterrupted during the leadership change.