The Bermuda Tourism Authority has announced two new hires as part of efforts to bolster the organisation’s operations.

A BTA spokeswoman said that the quango’s board of directors had appointed Michael DeCouto as the authority’s chief sales and marketing officer, while Kiara Isaac has been appointed to be director of people and culture.

However, the process to appoint a new chief executive officer — launched in August 2025 — continues. The BTA board said it will conclude “following the completion of all required assessments”.

The spokeswoman added: “The board is committed to selecting the right leader to advance Bermuda’s tourism sector and to ensuring the appointment reflects the authority’s long-term strategic needs.”

Mr DeCouto previously worked as the executive vice-president and chief digital and marketing officer at Clarien Bank, where he oversaw integrated marketing, digital platforms, product strategy and corporate communications.

He has also worked with the Bermuda Department of Tourism, where he was responsible for global consumer marketing, brand repositioning and international campaign execution.

The BTA spokeswoman said that as chief sales and marketing officer, Mr DeCouto would provide strategic leadership for sales and marketing activities, including brand management, digital marketing, partnerships, public relationships and visitor experiences.

Mr DeCouto said: “I am pleased to return to destination marketing at a time when Bermuda is focused on strengthening demand, improving yield and ensuring that tourism growth delivers broad economic benefit.

“I look forward to working closely with the board, the executive team and industry partners to advance these priorities.”

William Griffith, the BTA’s acting chairman, said: “Michael brings deep institutional knowledge of Bermuda’s tourism landscape, coupled with strong commercial and digital expertise.

“The board is confident that his leadership will support the authority’s mandate to deliver disciplined, efficient, market-responsive sales and marketing strategies that drive sustainable growth and value for the island.”

The BTA spokeswoman said Ms Isaac served as an HR business partner with the Bermuda Government, collaborating with permanent secretaries and senior leaders across multiple departments.

As the director of people and culture, she will lead human resource functions at the BTA with a focus on strengthening leadership capability, cultivating a high performance culture and ensuring the BTA has the talent and skills needed to deliver on its mandate.

Ms Isaac said she was excited to join the BTA, adding: “My focus will be on creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow, with clear pathways for development and leadership and a culture that enables everyone to contribute their best.”

The BTA spokeswoman said the appointments “reflect a continued focus on strengthening governance, leadership capacity and organisational effectiveness” in the BTA.

Mr Griffiths said last year that the BTA had “confronted difficult truths and taken clear action” in the wake of a damning culture review, launched after an exodus of staff from the organisation.

He added that the body was focused on moving forward to strengthen the quango and deliver results for the island.

The BTA said in September that almost 80 people had applied to become its next CEO.

It added then that the goal was to appoint the successful candidate by the end of October.

In June, the BTA confirmed the resignation of Tracy Berkeley, who had worked with the authority since 2020 and served as chief executive since March 2023.