HTA expects to fill key leadership positions

The Hawaii Tourism Authority expects to fill three top leadership posts, including the president and CEO position, by its October meeting.

The state tourism agency’s board has been searching for a new top leader since June when it voted to terminate HTA President and CEO George Szigeti’s contract without cause. Szigeti, who was hired in May 2015, will leave his post Oct. 31 with a severance package equivalent to half of his $297,684 a year salary.

But the agency already was grappling with the abrupt resignations of former Chief Operating Officer Randy Baldemor, who left in March, and former Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Dance, who left in May.

HTA Chairman Rick Fried said the agency paid Inkinen &Associates more than $48,000 to advertise the top three HTA vacancies: president and CEO, chief administrative officer and vice president of marketing and product. The staffing firm also screened applicants to help HTA narrow the field.

Fried said Inkinen selected eight of the more than 108 people who applied for the president and CEO position, to move forward. The full board met with the top pick on Thursday during an executive session. Fried said it was premature to release the individual’s name since a contract has not yet been tendered and signed.

Fried said Inkinen has selected six individuals to move forward out of the 130 candidates that applied for the vice president of marketing and product development job. The staffing firm also has chosen six out of 70 applicants to move forward in the agency’s search for a chief administrative officer position. Fried said HTA’s new president and CEO will be involved in the final selection of these applicants.