ACTE Taps Lawyer To Fill Leadership Role

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives named Susan Gurley, former assistant dean of international and graduate programs at Georgetown University Law Center, to be its new executive director, effective today. A committee of former ACTE presidents selected Gurley after a four-month search.

"ACTE's new executive director reflects the professional diversity that prevails in the business travel management industry today," said association president Greeley Koch in a statement. Gurley, a lawyer who speaks German, French and Hungarian, has extensive experience in U.S. governmental affairs and served as senior manager at the East-West Management Institute, a not-for-profit organization that focuses on legal reform in developing countries.

Though Gurley's appointment may be surprising to some, given her lack of travel industry experience, Koch said that the selection reflects ACTE's organizational strategies and goals. "Susan Gurley's expertise in international law and regulatory practices complements ACTE's long-term objectives in global government affairs. Her experience with the U.S. government will expedite our message to federal authorities and her extensive dealings throughout Asia, EMEA and Eastern Europe are completely in line with ACTE's educational programming and planned growth," he said. "The new director's strong educational background will be an asset in working with academia, and in strengthening our educational direction."

Gurley succeeds Nancy Holtzman, who held the position from 1997 to 2004.