NBTA Executive Director Bill Connors To Exit

National Business Travel Association executive director and COO Bill Connors is leaving his post to become the president and CEO of the Metro Boise Chamber of Commerce, the association announced today.

Connors notified NBTA of his departure plans earlier this week and the board of directors has begun to search for his replacement, according to a spokesperson.

Connors joined NBTA from the American Society of Travel Agents in 2003. During his tenure in the top staff post, NBTA implemented regional affiliate partnerships in Asia/Pacific, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States, and expanded professional certification and designation programs.

In recent years, NBTA also expanded its role in government relations and lobbying efforts in issues including car rental taxes, passenger prescreening security, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the Registered Traveler program.

Connors also served in various government travel and security think tank roles. In January, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff appointed Connors to the Aviation Security Advisory committee. In 2005, Connors joined the Next Generation Air Transportation System Institute Management Council.

"Bill has been a tremendous leader for NBTA and the business travel industry, and we wish him all the best as he begins a new chapter in his career," NBTA president and CEO Kevin Maguire said in a prepared statement. "Under Bill's six years at the helm of the NBTA staff, the organization has expanded in remarkable ways to better serve the managed travel community around the world. We thank Bill for his leadership, these accomplishments and more, and we thank him for his service to NBTA."