James Rondeau, the director of the Art Institute of Chicago, is scheduled to resume his position on Monday after being temporarily sidelined as a result of a bizarre and terrible incident on an international flight where he was apparently stripped naked in midair. Rondeau, who is the museum’s highest-paid employee and earns more than$ 1 million annually, was detained by German authorities on April 18 when he arrived in Munich. He reportedly drank beer and prescription drugs before disembarking on a United Airlines flight from Chicago. After the aircraft touched down, the 55-year-old exhibition chief was taken into custody by German police, causing a national security problems at one of the country’s most admired art organizations. Afterwards, Rondeau took a deliberate leave of absence while the gallery began an independent investigation into the event. Rondeau expressed regret for the suffering in a statement that was made available through CBS News:” I greatly regret this event and the impact it has had on the gallery, me, and my colleagues. The Art Institute has allowed me to pursue its vision for the past 27 years, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do so.” Despite the public’s embarrassment, the organization has chosen to appoint Rondeau as its leader. Museum supports author’s return A museum director told CBS News that the Art Institute of Chicago’s board of directors was assured in James Rondeau’s ability to lead and lead the gallery. Rondeau has been an interact director at the Art Institute since 1998. In 2016, he was elected president and chairman, overseeing the museum’s extensive collection of more than 300,000 works of art.
