A. The executive director of the Hispanic cultural division shall be appointed by the state cultural affairs officer or his successor, with the approval of the governor, from a list of qualified finalists provided by the board of directors.
B. Subject to the authority of the state cultural affairs officer or his successor, the executive director of the division shall be the administrative and executive officer of the division. The executive director shall be exempt from the provisions of the Personnel Act [Chapter 10, Article 9 NMSA 1978].