The Cruise Lines International Association today will name
Maritz Travel CEO Christine Duffy as the new head of the organization,
succeeding Terry Dale, the outgoing CLIA president and CEO.
Dale stepped down from the CLIA helm this month after seven
years. He was recently named president of the USTOA, effective in January.
As first reported by Travel Weekly, Maritz Travel said that Duffy's new role at CLIA would be
effective Feb. 1, 2011. She leaves after a decade with St. Louis-based Maritz,
a meeting, event and incentive travel company.
"Christine is a true leader in the travel industry, and
has helped Maritz Travel and the entire travel industry weather tough economic
times during the last decade," said Steve Maritz, chairman and CEO of
Maritz, in a statement.
Duffy rose to the position of Maritz CEO in 2005, helping
the company build its strategic meetings management business and meetings
effectiveness solutions, Maritz said.
In addition to serving as CEO, she oversaw Maritz's
pharmaceutical/healthcare sector activities, focusing on integrating and
customizing solutions to offer the healthcare industry.
Maritz's website said that Duffy was "very active in
the meetings industry. Through her expertise, vision and approachable
communication style, she is empowering meeting professionals around the globe
to elevate their profession and prove their strategic value to their company's
bottom line."
Duffy has served on the Meeting Professionals International
board of directors for six years, and was appointed chairwoman in 2005-2006.
She founded MPI's Women's Leadership Initiative, and served as its inaugural
chairwoman.
Maritz said that the St.
Louis Business Journal recognized Duffy as one of the 25 Most Influential
Business Women; Last year, she was named one of MeetingNews' "25 Most Influential People in the Meetings
Industry" for the fourth time. She was named one of Corporate Meetings and Incentives magazine's "Top 10 Women
Leaders in the Meeting Industry" in 2001.
Duffy served as president and COO of McGettigan Partners
before its acquisition in November 2001 by Maritz. At McGettigan, she grew
sales more than 154 percent between 1996 and 2001, Maritz said.
Maritz said that Duffy would remain an executive advisor to
Maritz.
Source: Travel Weekly