Royal Ontario Museum Announces Appointment of New Deputy Director & Chief Financial Officer

TORONTO, March 22, 2024 – Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Aschaiek as Deputy Director & Chief Financial Officer, effective March 25, 2024. In this role, Aschaiek will be responsible for the Museum’s financial strategy and execution, as well as overseeing the full range of ROM’s finance, accounting, and procurement functions. The position will also include management of the financial planning for the Museum’s multi-year strategic business plan, annual and capital budgets, and capital structure.

Aschaiek joins ROM from Woodbine Entertainment where he served for more than 20 years, including the past decade as Chief Financial Officer. At Woodbine, Aschaiek was responsible for leading the finance functions for a multi-faceted organization with over 1,500 employees and a portfolio consisting of entertainment, property development, food and beverage operations, and retail sales. Aschaiek’s accreditations include CPA and CA designations, and he has also served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity GTA and the William Osler Health System Foundation.

“With more than two decades of leadership experience, Joe is a dedicated and accomplished financial executive,” says Josh Basseches, Director and CEO. “Joe will play a key role in maintaining ROM’s financial strength and stability as the Museum continues to evolve to serve the needs of audiences from Toronto and beyond.”

“Throughout my career, I have been honoured to represent mission-based organizations with a focus on entertainment, hospitality, and philanthropy,” says Joe Aschaiek. “I am excited to join the Museum and build on ROM’s core vision and commitment to community relationships and visitor experience.”

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ABOUT ROM  
Opened in 1914, ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) showcases art, culture, and nature from around the world and across the ages. Today, ROM houses more than 13 million objects, from Egyptian mummies to contemporary sculpture, from meteorites to dinosaurs. ROM is the most visited museum in Canada and one of the top ten museums in North America. It is also the country’s preeminent field research institute, with a diverse range of experts who help us understand the past, make sense of the present, and shape a shared future. Just as impressive is ROM’s facility—a striking combination of heritage architecture and the cutting-edge Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, which marks the Museum as an iconic landmark and global cultural destination. 

We live on in what we leave behind.