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In a move that should pave the way for a long overdue organisational revamp, the Pacific Asia Travel Association has begun the search for a new President and CEO to replace Peter de Jong following his planned exit by April 2009. In a letter to Board members and PATA life members sent out on July 22…
In a move that should pave the way for a long overdue organisational revamp, the Pacific Asia Travel Association has begun the search for a new President and CEO to replace Peter de Jong following his planned exit by April 2009. In a letter to Board members and PATA life members sent out on July 22, PATA chairperson Janice Antonson said “suitable candidates” are now being sought for the position, which is soon to be advertised and posted in detail on the PATA website.
She noted that after completion of his first five-year term (2002-2006), Mr de Jong “was invited to extend his contract. He agreed, but indicated at the time that he sought only a final three-year extension of his contract (2007-2009).
“At the conclusion of the Colombo meetings in April of this year, when the current Executive Committee met for the first time, Peter indicated that he had not changed his mind and would welcome a timely transfer of responsibilities in the course of 2009. He said he had thoroughly enjoyed his years at the PATA helm, but felt that, after eight years, PATA deserved a new leader and he was keen to tackle a fresh challenge.”
Mrs Antonson said that Mr de Jong had “graciously” indicated that “he would be comfortable ‘passing the baton’ any time in 2009 that suits PATA, but would hope that no later than the PATA Annual Meeting 2009 (Board of Directors Meeting and Annual General Meeting, Macau, April 2009) the Board of Directors would approve the selected finalist, as proposed by the PATA Executive Committee.
“The Executive Committee accepted Mr. de Jong’s proposed timeline and now wishes to commence the search for our next President and CEO,” Mrs Antonson wrote.
The job specification describes it as “a challenging, high profile position in a large and rapidly expanding industry in the world’s most dynamic region.” Carrying a “commensurate compensation package” (Mr de Jong earns just under US$300,000 a year), the President & CEO provides “visionary leadership to a team of some 30 professionals at the Bangkok headquarters and regional PATA offices overseas.
“It requires a mature individual with relevant experience and sound judgment, who possesses a thorough understanding of the Asia Pacific region and its travel and tourism community. Ideally, the successful candidate also has senior-level experience in the management of an international membership-based organisation, preferably related to the travel industry.
“Excellent public speaking, writing and media skills, senior management and team leadership skills, analytic and financial experience and a solid commitment to growing the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry are essential. The willingness to travel extensively and work unusual hours, the ability to work effectively in different cultural settings and language environments, the successful candidate has an outstanding command of the English language. Competence in Asian languages would be an asset.”
According to the job spec, the PATA board members can submit an introductory letter and CV by 5 Sept 2008. A final selection is to be made by the end of 2008. Mrs Antonson said she will soon be sending members a comprehensive memo, updating them on “a number of exciting developments at PATA.”
In addition to the changing of the guard, PATA is facing the challenge of regaining much of its erstwhile influence and prestige. It is also facing growing calls for financial transparency and good governance. Its own internal documents refer to an ongoing search for relevance in a rapidly-changing global order which include geopolitical conditions, shifts in the economic, cultural and demographic profile of Asia and significant changes in the travel & tourism industry itself.
Imtiaz Muqbil is the Bangkok-based executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire. Born in India, Muqbil lived for many years in the Middle East where he started his journalism career as a stringer for Newsweek magazine and McGraw-Hill World News. He moved to Bangkok in 1978 as a report/subeditor for the Bangkok Post and began covering travel & tourism in 1981, as Thailand Bureau Chief and Chief Correspondent, TTG Asia, PATA Travel News and associated publications (1981-1992). He wrote a weekly column, “Travel Monitor”, in the Bangkok Post between July 1992 – July 2012. Imtiaz Muqbil has conferred a 1997 PATA award for his reporting on the growth and development of Asia-Pacific tourism and another PATA award for coverage of the 1994 tsunami disaster. Between 2017-20, he edited and published The Olive Tree, the first and only publication designed to help Travel & Tourism meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
