The Global Business Travel Association last week announced its board of directors after a unanimous vote had appointed executive director and COO Scott Solombrino as CEO of the association. Solombrino replaced Mike McCormick one year ago as executive director.
The CEO title initially was created in the early 2000s to be attached to the elected president title to add credibility of authority and hierarchy clarity within the organization, according to an anonymous industry veteran, who was close to the issue at that time. For similar reasons, the COO title was added to the executive director role.
GBTA detached the CEO title from the presidency when it amended and restated its bylaws at the 2015 GBTA Convention, according to a GBTA spokesperson. The title since was not attached to any individual in the organization until now.
Asked why the position was brought back, the spokesperson said: "After careful consideration for over four months, the board chose to align the business title of the operating leader to that of other peer organizations to provide the association and its members the strongest possible seat at the table to navigate the Covid-19 crisis and further the effectiveness of GBTA being the global voice of business travel."
Some members say the ascension makes sense now. "From a representation perspective, you want the … voice of the association to be regarded highly and looked upon as the authority. CEO sounds better than executive director or COO," one buyer member told BTN. "I can see the thinking behind that."
Others suggested the CEO title diminishes Solombrino's credibility as an association leader, particularly in an association that has a history of strong buyer leadership.
"You basically are handing the reins of power to a paid employee. I don't see how that gives [the leader of a member association] more credibility, it gives them less credibility," said the industry veteran. The source added that Solombrino's formal ascension to CEO validates the notion that the president role, which is currently held by Ingredion procurement lead Bhart Sarin, is now "just a figurehead."
That said, several peer organizations do attach the CEO title to their highest paid executive. Meeting Professionals International, which similarly represents meeting buyers and suppliers, supports a paid president and CEO role. The U.S. Travel Association does the same, as does the American Society of Travel Advisors.
Solombrino's salary will not change with his new title, according to the GBTA spokesperson. The association's tax forms for fiscal year 2018, the most recent available, showed the total executive director and COO salary at $958,000 annually.
A GBTA spokesperson told BTN via email that Solombrino currently is not receiving his full compensation package as a result of the pandemic, but declined to offer any specifics.
"There have been aspects of Scott’s compensation that have been deferred until there is resolution to the Covid-19 crisis," according to the spokesperson. "The board did not need to take any action as Scott volunteered this as part of a multi-point cost control plan to help the association navigate the pandemic."
GBTA in March laid reduced its staff by one-third amid the coronavirus crisis.