New Delhi’s Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) has announced the appointment of Manuel Rabaté as chief executive officer and director.

With over 25 years of experience in museum leadership, Rabaté has served as the inaugural director of Louvre Abu Dhabi since 2016, overseeing the institution’s operations and global development. Previously, he worked successively as chief financial officer, secretary general, and chief executive officer at Agence France-Muséums in Paris from 2008 to 2016 before joining Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism. He was appointed a knight of France’s National Order of Merit in 2015 and the Order of Arts and Letters in 2020.

Established in 2010, KNMA is India’s first contemporary art museum, showcasing the country’s cultural heritage through its collection, workshops, and other public programs. The institution has been preparing for expansion since 2023, which will introduce multiple exhibition and theater spaces, along with a library, archive, and educational center. 

Commenting on his appointment, Rabaté told The Art Newspaper that he has “always had a keen interest in South Asia and in India in particular for both its cultural richness and its institutional life.” He added that he is ”excited to be part of a project that will change the museum landscape of the subcontinent.” 

Rabaté will continue to serve at Louvre Abu Dhabi before assuming his new role in early 2026.

Minnie Chan is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.