ELLSWORTH – Robert Bahr has resigned his position as executive director of the Grand Auditorium in Ellsworth.

Bahr, who has served in that capacity since 1998, has decided to devote his full energies to a new business venture in Bar Harbor.

Bob and his wife, Anne, own Anne’s White Columns Inn in Bar Harbor and recently purchased Cleftstone Manor, a 16-room bed and breakfast listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The Grand has been a wonderful experience,” Bahr said in a statement. “However, I need to devote my time to my family and to the two inns we now own. Being an innkeeper must be my full-time profession. I love the Grand and all it represents to this region and I will be involved in various projects with the organization.”

Marilyn Rutland, the Grand’s board president, said, “We have to reluctantly accept Bob’s resignation and wish him well in this very exciting time for he and his family. Bob has accomplished wonderful things for the organization; the quality of the Grand’s musical productions has never been higher, and that’s because of Bob’s efforts.”

The board has asked Robert Libbey, the Grand’s director of development, to become executive director.

Libbey, 41, is a Maine native and is past executive director of Maine Performing Arts Network, festival director for the National Folk Festival in Bangor, and an Emmy Award-winning television producer for Maine Public Television. Libbey is a graduate of UMaine, where he earned an undergraduate degree in theater. In 2002 he received his master of business administration from the University of Maine Business School.

“I’m excited about this challenging opportunity,” Libbey said. “Bob Bahr has done tremendous things for the Grand and I look forward to building on his work.”