Berkshire Botanical Garden Announces Change in Leadership

Berkshire Botanical Garden has announced that Mike Beck and Thaddeus Thompson have been named co-executive directors by the Board of Trustees.

With the support of the Board of Trustees, BBG has changed its organizational structure to create two co-executive director positions tasked with collaborating on strategic issues, overseeing increased programming and growth and sharing the organizational responsibilities of Berkshire Botanical Garden.

Beck, a former patent lawyer with a master’s degree in biochemistry, was the executive director of Berkshire Botanical Garden from 2014 through 2021. He returned from a sabbatical in England earlier this year.

Prior to joining BBG in 2021 as interim executive director, Thompson served as the director of institutional advancement at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Mass. He is also a member of the board of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which oversees the Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley. 

Beck said he is looking forward to “dividing and conquering” the executive director's tasks. “Thaddeus and I have both been able to lead this organization. It’s not easy to find someone to just pick up the leadership, but it’s been great to see him dive in. He’s a wonderful people person.”

“Mike has built a great community here,” Thompson said, “and he’s an organizational genius. He’s great fun to work with, and I’m excited about the possibilities we have ahead of us.”

The change comes as BBG embarks on the implementation of its long-term strategic expansion plan. This summer saw the opening of the new Farm in the Garden Camp Building, woodland amphitheater, expanded topiary garden area and the Wildflower Meadow.