Change at the top of ASVA
Added: 02 Jun 2023
As we alerted members on Wednesday (31st May), ASVA has some significant news to share. Our CEO, Gordon Morrison, will be leaving ASVA in a few months’ time to join the Association for Cultural Enterprises (ACE) as their new CEO, taking his passion for supporting and inspiring the sector he loves onto a multi-national stage.
Gordon joined ASVA in the summer of 2018, and has led the organisation through some of the most challenging periods our sector has ever experienced. Despite these unique challenges, ASVA has grown and thrived. Membership has increased by 40%, our influence and reputation as a force for good for the sector and wider tourism industry has grown exponentially and membership engagement levels in our activities are at an all-time high. ASVA now delivers more for our members than we have at any other stage in our history, and this is reflected in the very high approval ratings the organisation attained in last year’s membership survey relating to ASVA’s performance and value. Gordon has also overseen the successful launch and implementation of a new five-year strategy, establishing our new vision, mission and values and giving our organisation a renewed sense of direction as we continue to grow.
On his time at ASVA, Gordon said: “I have enjoyed an incredible 5 years as ASVA CEO. Little did I know what I was getting myself into when I joined the organisation back in the summer of 2018. I’m pretty sure dealing with pandemics and the enforced closure of the sector was not in the job description, however I have learned so much in my time here and I am very proud of where I will be leaving the organisation. ASVA has never been in a stronger position, and I am confident my replacement will find all the building blocks in place – be that in relation to our strategy and business plan, our standing within the tourism community and within the corridors of power, or crucially, our reputation and engagement levels with our members – to continue to build on the successes of the last 5 years.
“They will also find a small, but talented and passionate executive team and a thoroughly dedicated and knowledgeable Board of Directors to support them.
“I do not see this as the end of my engagement with ASVA. I look forward to seeing many members at the ASVA conference in November, which ACE will be supporting, and I am sure there will be many continued collaborations between ASVA and ACE in the months and years ahead!’’
Of course, this is not a farewell to Gordon as yet. He will remain in post throughout the summer to support the ASVA Board with the recruitment of his successor, and to ensure an effective and smooth handover when the new CEO is appointed, to ensure minimal disruption to ASVA services for our members. Indeed, ASVA is committed to providing even more quality services, webinars and events over this period.
The recruitment of our new CEO now starts in earnest. The ASVA Board, supported by Gordon, is currently drafting the Job Description and Job Advert, with the intention that applications will be sought within the next few days.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the CEO role can contact the ASVA Chair, Paul Nixon, on pnixon@realmarykingsclose.com for an initial informal chat.
We are sure that everyone will warmly congratulate Gordon on his new role and will look forward to an exciting new chapter for ASVA ahead.