As the son of a diplomat, David M. Hillenbrand spent his youth surrounded by the art, architecture and culture of some of Europe's great cities: Bonn, Paris, Budapest, London.

John Beale, Post-Gazette David M. Hillenbrand is the new president of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Click photo for larger image.

But although the family traveled the continent -- his father, Martin J. Hillenbrand, was ambassador to Hungary and Germany -- they nonetheless remained committed to art and museums in the United States, including the Museum of Modern Art.

"We never lived in New York City, but we belonged to MOMA," said the younger Hillenbrand, the new president of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, whose tenure begins July 1. His salary has not been disclosed.

"His compensation will be comparable to our past president's, which was based on a competitive review of [similar] positions both locally and nationally," said Betsy Momich, spokeswoman. Former president Ellsworth Brown earned $190,651.

Hillenbrand tells the story about his family's MOMA membership to illustrate one of his goals: to bring Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh more attention around the world and to "broaden its constituency base."

"I am particularly looking forward to working with the museum directors and staffs to further unleash the uncommon potential of these institutions," said Hillenbrand, who called the museums "national treasures."

The museums, founded by Andrew Carnegie 110 years ago, are comprised of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center and The Andy Warhol Museum.

Locally, Hillenbrand said he wants to build stronger, more formal relationships between the Carnegie and local school districts, particularly with regard to the Carnegie Science Center. He also hopes to build ties to the corporate technical community.

In addition, he will be working to implement the Carnegie's long-range plans as set forth by the board of directors.

"David has the very rare combination of attributes that we were committed to finding in a leader," said Lee Foster, chairman of L.B. Foster Co., a Carnegie Museums trustee and head of the search committee. "He has a proven track record of leading complex organizations with great vision, business skill and thoughtful management; and he also has an extensive knowledge of and appreciation for the arts and a real understanding of the important role museums play in the cultural well-being of a community."

Hillenbrand, 57, recently retired from Bayer Inc. after spending 28 years in international and executive positions with the company. Hillenbrand began his career with Bayer AG in Leverkusen, Germany, before transferring in 1980 to Bayer's Pittsburgh-based chemical company, Mobay Chemical, where he served in a number of management capacities over an eight-year period.

While in Pittsburgh in the 1980s, he was a board member of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and a member of the "Carnegie 100," a group of influential professionals from various industries tapped by then-Carnegie Museums President Robert Wilburn to provide input on the direction of the institution.

He returned to Bayer headquarters in Germany in 1988 to head the North America Group, and in 1991 was appointed chief administrative officer of Bayer's U.S. health-care company, Miles Inc. Three years later, he was named president of Bayer Canada, where he served for eight years before accepting the position of executive vice president of Bayer Polymers in Germany.

Throughout his Bayer career, Hillenbrand chaired and participated in numerous United Way campaigns, was active in Bayer's Arts Committee, and was involved in the company's science literacy program for children.