BC Business
Greg Klassen, CEO, Canadian Tourism Commission | BCBusiness
Greg Klassen has officially taken the wheel of the official tourism arm of the Canadian government. The board of directors of the Canadian Tourism Commission, a Vancouver-based Crown corporation, announced the selection Saturday. Formerly the senior vice-president of marketing strategy and communications, Klassen has worked with the Canadian Tourism Commission in various capacities for the last 12 years. Klassen will assume the role of interim CEO and president for the next 90 days while CTC’s board conducts its search for someone to fill the position permanently. Although the 90 days will serve as a transition period for the organization, Klassen says he will likely throw his hat in the ring and apply for the permanent role. During the transition period, Klassen says his primary goal is to help guide the CTC through its plans for 2014. “We had a strong succession plan, so we’re not going to skip a beat,” he says. According to Klassen, CTC will focus the upcoming year’s efforts on heavy marketing, focus on youth travel for the future and focus on bringing international conferences to Canada. He follows in the footsteps of long-time CEO Michele McKenzie, who departed in the fall of 2013 after a decade leading the organization.