NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (September 23, 2013) — The Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) has a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The appointment took effect on September 23, 2013. Mr. Greg Phillip a former Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors was introduced by Acting Premier of Nevis and Minister of Tourism Hon. Mark Brantley at a brief ceremony at the NTA offices on the same day of his appointment.
Mr. Brantley welcomed the new CEO citing that the search to fill that position was an exhaustive one. He also announced that the outgoing CEO Mr. John Hanley would take up a position at the Ministry of Tourism where his expertise was in demand.
“Mr. Hanley comes back to us at the Ministry of Tourism where we desperately need his services and Mr. Phillip will take over as the new CEO.
“Just so that the public understands, this was a very exhaustive search that was done. We advertised the position and we received over 30 applications. All those applications were vetted. Considerable effort went in by the Board in interviewing people. We had applications literally from throughout the region, indeed some international applicants as well,” he said.
Notwithstanding, Mr. Brantley explained that Mr. Phillip had recused himself from the process once he was one of those being considered for the position.
“He applied understandably since he was under consideration he recused himself from the process and so he had nothing to do with the selection process once he came under consideration but after that search and considerable interviews and follow up interviews, the Board in its wisdom decided to recommend Mr. Phillip for the position of CEO,” he said.
According to Mr. Brantley, Mr. Phillip who was the former Manager of Scotia Bank (Nevis Branch) possessed impeccable academic credentials and in recent years he had been devoting himself to tourism.
He said Mr. Phillip had also been a member of the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel and Tourism Association Board and had been actively involved in the Triathlon on Nevis and was one of the main organisers of that annual event.
“He is very keen on sports tourism and he has some attributes that we were looking for in terms of the Ministry and how to move Nevis forward insofar as tourism is concerned,” The Tourism Minister added.
As CEO, Mr. Phillip would be required to promote Nevis and to spearhead, according to Mr. Brantley, a very dedicated team of functionaries and technocrats at the NTA.
“His job will be to promote Nevis, to lead that team and hopefully we will see the benefits of that in terms of greater visitor arrivals, greater awareness of Nevis in the market as we continue to promote this beautiful destination of ours,” he said.
In response, Mr. Phillip said he was up for the challenge; expressed his appreciation on being selected and that he was looking forward to leading the team at the Authority to promote Nevis as a leading destination in the Caribbean.
“I am really grateful for the fact that I have been chosen. It is a job that I think is definitely one of the more exciting jobs in tourism on Nevis probably the most exciting one except for being a tour guide or something like that, where you are actually out with the people but I am really looking forward to this new challenge also leading the experienced team that is here at the Nevis Tourism Authority.
“I think that Nevis is well positioned and well poised to really be great in the market to do some things that would make Nevis Proud; do some things to promote itself to the world and make sure that we have what has to be one of the most vibrant scenes in the Caribbean as far as a Caribbean tourism destination so really looking forward to it,” he said.
NTA Board’s Acting Chairman Mr. Gary Colt also made brief comments.
“We chose Greg over the 30 and some applicants. We literally had applications from all over the world including some African countries, the United States and all over the Caribbean. After many, many hours of interviewing, we decided on Greg for many reasons, not only because he is Nevisian but that is a plus and we are very proud and very confident that he will do a great job,” he said.
Also present was outgoing CEO Mr. John Hanley who registered his thankfulness for having been given the opportunity to serve in that capacity and wished his predecessor well.
“I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to lead the Nevis Tourism Authority and I am glad that the leadership will pass on to another Nevisian and I wish Greg all the best,” he said.
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