The Blank Park Zoo Foundation board of directors today named Mark Vukovich, former president and CEO of Dewey Ford, as CEO of the Blank Park Zoo.

Vukovich was chosen from a field of more than 150 candidates after a four-month search. He is a lifelong Iowan and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in business administration.

He has volunteered and raised money for numerous charitable organizations, including Variety – The Children’s Charity, the YMCA of Greater Des Moines and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Vukovich replaces interim CEO Mike Hubbell, who has led the organization since Terry Rich left the post in February to become the head of the Iowa Lottery.