Michael Moline
VISIT FLORIDA has begun a search for a replacement for chief marketing officer Nelson Mongiovi, who has resigned effective Sept 11.
Vice President for Brand Staci Mellman will serve as interim CMO.
Members of the executive committee heard details of the search during a conference call Tuesday. Officials offered no details of Mongiovi’s plans. He did not reply to an emailed request for comment.
Searchwide Global, the executive recruiting firm directing the search, is developing a job description and recruitment plan with an eye to lining up candidates beginning next week, Senior Vice President Kellie Henderson told the committee.
The plan is to deliver a list of candidates sometime the week of Oct. 22, she said.
“Tentatively, that’s when that will happen. And from there, we’ll go into the interviews,” Henderson said.
The firm is talking with “key industry stakeholders” to design the job description, Henderson added. These 15 people represent different regions and industries within the broader tourism sector.
“To allow us to have a broad input level with regard to the state’s perspective and needs for the CMO,” she said. “Does it play in the international market? Does it work for small business? Again, our industry is very diverse.”
The job will pay in the $200,000-$210,000 range, excluding benefits, which would add 15 percent to 20 percent to the package. That should be enough to attract suitable candidates, Henderson said.
