One of Houston’s most beloved and visited attractions has a new leader.

The Houston Zoo has named Lisa Peterson as its next president and CEO. A hospitality industry veteran with more than 27 years of experience, Peterson most recently led the San Diego Zoo Safari Park as senior vice president and executive director. She replaces Lee Ehmke who is retiring after more than nine years as CEO of the Houston Zoo.

Peterson arrives at the zoo on the heels of many remarkable changes over the last decade. Newer exhibits such as the African Forest, Galapagos Islands and Birds of the World have reimagined the 55-acre facility as an immersive, habitat rich environment for the 6,000 animals who call the zoo home. The most recent effort, led by Ehmke was a $156 million centennial campaign that funded the new Galapagos exhibit that opened in 2023.

“I’m excited to join the Houston Zoo and work with this team to connect communities with animals while inspiring action to save wildlife,” Peterson said. “I look forward to building on its strong foundation.”

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Peterson helped drive efforts like the Walkabout Australia habitat and oversaw the park’s largest ever project, Elephant Valley, an area for elephant conservation. She is a current board member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and has previously held leadership roles at Apple and the hotel company White Lodging.

Located inside Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo welcomes more than two million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited attractions in the region.

Written by A.J. Mistretta