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Tom Downey is stepping down as president of the Children’s Museum of Denver to take the helm at Venoco Inc. CEO Timothy Marquez’s charitable foundation.

Mike Yankovich, currently the Children’s Museum’s COO, has been appointed by the museum board as interim president, effective immediately, the museum announced late Friday. He has been with the museum since 2003.

The museum features interactive exhibits and activities for young children. Downey, who has been its president since 2005, is leaving to become president of the Timothy & Bernadette Marquez Foundation, which supports health care and education programs in Denver; Kalamazoo, Mich.; and Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in southern California.

Timothy Marquez founded and heads Venoco, a Denver-based oil and gas company (NYSE: VQ). He and his wife also founded and provided initial funding for the Denver Scholarship Foundation, which supports the city’s college-bound students.

Previously, Yankovich was the Children’s Museum’s VP of guest experience and director of education.

"The board was unanimous in selecting Yankovich as the interim president and is excited to have him at the helm during this period of transition," Deborah Wapensky, CFO of Vectra Bank Colorado and chair of the Children’s Museum’s board of directors, said in a statement.

Downey will continue at the Children’s Museum in a "transitional role" until Dec. 15, the museum said.

"I have been incredibly honored to have served with a team as motivated, well-tenured and experienced as the staff at the Children’s Museum," Downey said in a statement released by the museum. "While I will miss the team greatly, I could not pass up the opportunity offered by Tim and Bernie Marquez to support an array of nonprofits pursuing improved education and health for the community."

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