Head of the Intrepid Resigns as Fleet Week Approaches

Bill White, the ebullient president of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, resigned abruptly on Wednesday morning, just days before some of the museum’s biggest annual events are to take place.

Mr. White, who guided the aircraft carrier Intrepid through financial troubles and a difficult departure from its berth on the West Side of Manhattan, resigned from the foundation that operates the museum and also left the two charities — the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Intrepid Relief Fund — that raise money to help wounded veterans and their families.

His departure was announced by Howard J. Rubenstein, a spokesman for the Intrepid, and by Glen Rochkind, a spokesman for Mr. White. Each declined to provide any explanation for Mr. White’s sudden resignation from his post, which paid $382,000 in 2008.

Mr. White, reached by phone as he rode a train to Washington on Wednesday afternoon, said he had resigned to pursue another job, which he declined to identify.

“I love the Intrepid, it’s meant everything in my life,” said Mr. White, who is 43 and had worked at the Intrepid since he was 24. “I’ve dedicated my life to the place and I love it.”

He said his leaving was “a good thing” and in no way related to a long-running investigation into fund-raising for Alan G. Hevesi, the former state comptroller who resigned in 2006 after pleading guilty to a felony related to his use of state workers to chauffeur his wife.

Mr. White received a subpoena more than two years ago from Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo’s office, which has been investigating the solicitation of campaign contributions from pension fund managers.

Mr. White said he would not comment about an “ongoing investigation” but added that he was “not hiding a single thing that is material or interesting.”

Several executives of the museum and trustees of the Intrepid foundation either did not respond to requests for comment or referred questions to Mr. Rubenstein, who is a trustee and a prominent public relations executive. Mr. Rubenstein and a few of his employees declined to comment beyond a statement that said Mr. White had played a “critical role” in the Intrepid’s success and had resigned to “pursue other opportunities.”

Mr. White said the timing was right for his departure, but it came a week before the Intrepid will welcome thousands of sailors to the city for the annual Fleet Week, which begins May 26. On May 27, the Intrepid is scheduled to hold its annual “Salute to Freedom” dinner, where Gen. David H. Petraeus is to be the guest of honor.