The Dunedin City Council yesterday announced Malcolm Anderson, of Christchurch, who has a background in tourism and destination marketing sectors across the commercial, not-for-profit and social enterprise sectors, would take up the role, beginning on July 22.
The appointment came after the results of an independent review, released in February, highlighted underperformance by Enterprise Dunedin across the tourism sector.
The review followed criticism by Larnach Castle director Norcombe Barker, who had slated Enterprise Dunedin's performance as an ''unmitigated disaster'' that had cost the city ''tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars''.
The review which followed stopped short of recommending the creation of a new, arm's-length council-controlled organisation to promote tourism in Dunedin.
Instead, it recommended changes to the Enterprise Dunedin operation, including the recruitment of a new senior city marketing manager ''with experience and credibility''.
Yesterday, Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said he was ''delighted'' to secure Mr Anderson's skills and experience in marketing and brand management.
He would provide marketing expertise and strategic leadership, working with other key stakeholders across the city, Mr Christie said.
Mr Anderson's background in the tourism and destination marketing sectors included a stint as the Department of Conservation's project manager for the Great Walks project and its visitor safety systems review.
Before that, he worked for the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand as its tourism development and planning manager, and at Sanctuary Mountain, near Cambridge, the world's largest predator-proof sanctuary.
He was also a director at Interpretation New Zealand, which focused on developing and implementing new visitor initiatives.
