Intrepid former marketer and chief becomes Tourism Tasmania CEO

CMO to CEO: How Intrepid Travel’s Sarah Clark is balancing sustainability, diversity and personality in the pursuit of growthIntrepid Travel A/NZ managing director and former marketing chief, Sarah Clark, has become the new CEO of Tourism Tasmania. A Tasmanian by birth, Clark has been on the tourism body’s board since September 2021.

She takes over the CEO post after several years with Intrepid, firstly as its marketing chief before being promoted to managing director of A/NZ in 2019. Clark then took a one-year secondment to oversee the travel group’s burgeoning accommodation strategy. She returned to the last chief post in early 2022.

Having spent her entire career in travel and tourism, Clark has held other management roles including VP for STA Travel in Dallas.

In a statement, Tourism Tasmania said Clark brings significant skills and global experience to the role, having been a leader in the tourism industry specialising in travel and marketing across multiple continents. The body also noted Clark is taking over the helm of Tourism Tasmania as the state’s tourism industry is entering an exciting new period with the development of the 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy well underway.

“Sarah’s deep understanding of sustainable travel from an industry operator and customer perspective will serve her well as we continue to deliver our plan for Tasmania’s tourism sector and maintain the positive impacts it contributes to our state,” Tasmania premier and minister for tourism, Jeremy Rockliff, said.

Clark replaces John Fitzgerald, who had been at the helm of Tourism Tasmania for the past 10 years. Her appointment followed an extensive national recruitment process that Rockliff said attracted a very strong field of candidates.

“I would also like to thank John Fitzgerald for his contribution and leadership over the last 10 years. During his tenure, he has overseen both a period of significant industry growth as well as the unprecedented challenge and impact of COVID-19,” Rockliff said.

For her part, Clark said she was honoured to take on the role as a proud Tasmanian and help realise Tasmania’s vision and plan of being a global leader in sustainable tourism.

“We are a destination on the top of many Australians’ travel lists, with international travellers quickly catching on. People are looking for enriching and meaningful travel experiences and Tasmania is unlike anywhere in the world,” she commented. “We are beautifully positioned to thrive as travel recovers with our world class gastronomy, natural environment, arts, and unique culture.

“I look forward to leading the incredible and very capable team at Tourism Tasmania and working with the wider tourism industry to drive positive social, cultural and economic impact to Tasmanians through a strong and sustainable visitor economy.”

Clark officially commences as Tourism Tasmania’s CEO in early 2023.

Read more: CMO to CEO: How Intrepid Travel’s Sarah Clark is balancing sustainability, diversity and personality in the pursuit of growth

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