Mote Marine CEO to move on after 27 years

SARASOTA — One of the most successful and recognized nonprofit executives in the Sarasota-Bradenton region, Kumar Mahadevan with Mote Marine Laboratory, is stepping down from his position.

Michael Crosby, senior vice president for research at Mote, was named president and CEO. Mahadevan, who has been CEO of Mote for 27 years, was named a president emeritus of the organization, according to a joint statement released today from Mahadevan and Mote's board of trustees. Mahadevan will be an ambassador and advocate of Mote for at least the next two years, the release states, and he will also mentor Crosby.

Mahadevan joined Mote in 1978 as a senior scientist and was named CEO in 1986. He has been Mote's longest-serving leader in the organization's 58-year history, the release states. Mahadevan, in the release, says assuming non-operational duties will allow him to spend more time with his family. “I've been thinking about slowing down for several years now,” he says. “My wife and I would like to travel. We have grandchildren that we want to spend time with — it's time.”