Meeting News - November 16, 2009 - (Page 20)

Meeting People By Chris Davis & Matt Alderton Philadelphia CVB Names Jack Ferguson Future President, CEO Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau executive vice president Jack Ferguson will replace president and CEO Tom Muldoon at the end of next year, the CVB announced last month. Muldoon, who has been chief executive of PCVB for 25 years, was instrumental in building the Pennsylvania Ferguson, Muldoon Convention Center, which opened in 1993, and in advocating for its expansion, currently underway and scheduled for completion in early 2011. He will retire on Dec. 31, 2010. Ferguson will continue to head the CVB’s sales efforts, transitioning into his new role gradually in 2010. “Tom’s contributions to the hospitality industry in Philadelphia are unprecedented,” PCVB chairman Nick DeBenedictis said. “Now he will begin transitioning to another trusted, experienced and well-respected professional, Jack Ferguson, who will push the organization and industry to new heights.” A Philadelphia native, Ferguson joined PCVB in 2003 and has 40 years of hospitality industry experience. A national search for his replacement will commence in March 2010 and is expected to conclude by next summer. “There will be a seamless transition in the levels of services that people have come to expect from the PCVB,” Ferguson said. “Tom has built a culture of award-winning services here that will grow even stronger.” eral luxury resorts. She will be based in Washington, D.C., and report to ALHI regional vice president of sales Ed Simon. “Alisha is an exceptional sales and hospitality professional, who has become a valAlisha Ward ued resource for planners in the region,” said ALHI president and CEO David Gabri. Luxury Hotel Group AHLI Taps Alisha Ward For Sales Associated Luxury Hotels International last month named former Hilton luxury brand sales executive and former meeting planner Alisha Ward as vice president of sales for its Mid-Atlantic region. Ward, who began her career as a planner for The Aluminum Association, joins the national sales organization of deluxe properties after stints at Hilton and sev- Vanessa Kager To Head Corpus Christi CVB’s New Austin Office Corpus Christi native and longtime hospitality sales executive Vanessa Kager will lead the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new Austin, Texas, satellite office. Kager has 15 Vanessa Kager years of hotel sales experience, most recently as senior sales manager for the Marriott Austin Downtown/ Convention Center and previously in positions with the Hilton Austin Convention Center and several California properties. “Nine out of 10 people we talked to gave us her name first and multiple reasons why she would work best to sell conventions for Corpus Christi in the Austin area,” said Corpus Christi CVB CEO Keith Arnold, adding that 80 percent of the city’s convention and meeting business is generated by state associations and government agencies headquartered in Austin. H Certain Appoints Tech Exec Olivier Delerm As CMO San Francisco-based meetings technology ﬁrm Certain Software late last month named former Siebel Systems executive Olivier Delerm as the ﬁrm’s chief marketing ofﬁcer to lead the company’s global marketing strategy and execution, ofﬁcials said. “Olivier brings global enterprise software experience to Certain,” said Certain CEO Peter Micciche. “He has a proven track record in developing global strategic marketing initiatives which produce exceptional business results. His international Olivier Delerm perspective and experience will enhance our already strong presence in global markets, and his product and technology understanding will help lead Certain’s development of innovative and impactful solutions for the meetings and events industry.” Delerm formerly served with Siebel Systems, Airframe Business Software, Scopus Technology and as managing partner of the Delerm Group, his own management consulting ﬁrm. H Please e-mail meetings industry personnel announcements to cdavis@meetingnews.com. 20 MeetingNews November 16, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - November 16, 2009

Meeting News - November 16, 2009
Table of Contents
Meetings Spotlight
Viewpoint
Event Profile
Construction Cites
Meeting People
Association Watch
Travel Dashboard
Dateline: Reno
Island Guide
South Regional

Meeting News - November 16, 2009