News of Peterson’s potential ouster was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle late Thursday.
A spokesperson for Peterson, who has helmed the organization for nearly 17 years, said the CEO wasn’t aware of a vote on her employment.
Instead, Peterson said she accepted the resignation last week of the board chair of the San Francisco Zoological Society, which runs the zoo.
On May 7, Peterson wrote in an email to chair Melinda Dunn and Mindy Henderson, another board member, that she had received Dunn’s written resignation.
“While you verbally proffered a different reason for your resignation, your written resignation states that it is because you no longer get along with me as CEO,” the email reads.
Henderson confirmed that she had received the message, but an email sent to board members on May 9 by attorney Christina Bouchot, who identifies herself as its human resources counsel, said that Dunn never submitted a formal resignation.
“I understand that Tanya has informed some of you that Melinda has resigned from the Board. However, this is incorrect for several important reasons,” the message from Bouchot reads.
Bouchot said that while Dunn did send some board members communication late last year discussing a possible “transition in leadership,” she never sent any resignation to Peterson, as required by the organization’s bylaws, and later followed up with a “clear decision to remain as chair.”
Peterson’s spokesperson said Bouchot was hired by Dunn hired and does not work for the zoo.
