Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Chairman Bob Lander and President and CEO Don Welsh announced the association vacated nine positions in “a strategic realignment of the organization.” DMAI said the move will help it focus on member and partner needs.
DMAI went on to explain that Charles Jeffers, COO and interim CEO since September 2015, will remain with the organization through the end of May 2016 to assist in the transition.
“Following significant analysis, discussion and deliberation, the timing of this organizational realignment is appropriate and essential,” Lander said. “The executive committee fully supports the strategies and initiatives that Don plans to implement in the very near future. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Charles for his commitment to DMAI and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
Industry publication USAE reported that those who were let go were all part of DMAI’s Washington D.C. headquarters and Welsh said the former employees had been offered "generous severance packages."
“This organizational realignment will allow the team to accomplish the key tasks that will help take DMAI to the next level,” Welsh said. “We exist for the benefit of our members and moving forward, we will provide the services and products that they want, need and are willing to financially support.”
As a result of this immediate organizational realignment, the DMAI leadership team currently includes Welsh; Christine Shimasaski, Managing Director of empowerMINT and EIC; Julie Hart, Chief Financial Officer; and Paul Ouimet, Executive Director of DestinationNEXT.
Welsh was named president and CEO of DMAI in late January 2016.
