Kerri Stewart takes over day-to-day operations today at Visit Jacksonville after Daniel O’Byrne left the position as president and CEO on Friday.
O’Byrne will be replaced on an interim basis by Stewart, senior vice president at Infinity Global Solutions and former chief administrative officer for former Mayor John Peyton.
“I met with staff and several board members on Friday,” Stewart said this morning.
“My goal in the first few weeks is to get my arms around and address any urgent projects to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. I will also work closely with the executive board members and staff as they continue their 2011/2012 business planning,” she said.
IGS has been hired by Visit Jacksonville to provide assistance and part-time management of the organization, said Jim Gilmore, IGS partner.
O’Byrne left the position after 13 months on the job. Visit Jacksonville is the brand identity for the Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau.
O’Byrne’s term ended after a meeting Friday of the executive committee of Visit Jacksonville’s board of directors.
“Daniel O’Byrne is no longer president and CEO. The board wishes him well in his future endeavors. That’s all we’re going to say,” said Misty Skipper, Visit Jacksonville spokeswoman.
O’Byrne came to Jacksonville and took over the top post at the not-for-profit convention and group tourism recruitment agency in November 2010.
He succeeded John Reyes, who resigned to take a similar job in Monterey, Calif., and has since relocated to San Francisco, where he is executive vice president of San Francisco travel.
O’Byrne had been the chief marketing officer at the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau in Arkansas.
“The board asked Dan to leave,” said Fred Pozin, general manager of the Ramada Conference Center in mandarin and a member of the Duval County Tourist Development Council.
The council administers revenue derived from the Duval County hospitality tax collected on hotel rooms. Visit Jacksonville is the marketing arm of the TDC. Its budget for 2011-12 is $3.3 million.
“My gut feeling is there were too many signs things weren’t working. It was a solid decision to bring someone in to take this community in the right direction,” Pozin said.
Skipper said the board will meet as soon as possible to begin a search for O’Byrne’s successor on a “local, regional and national” basis.
There is no time frame, “but they will be moving quickly,” she said.
Stewart said she will be splitting her time between IGS and Visit Jacksonville.
“We will stay focused on the task of getting more heads in beds,” she said.
Stewart said the rest of the Visit Jacksonville staff will remain intact.
“Everything is stable. Everything is fine,” she said.
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