The Tourism Attraction Board has appointed Melanie McField as the new Executive Director for the Pirates Week Office, following a recent recruitment drive that became necessary when former executive director Bernie Bush resigned to run for public office.

As Executive Director of the Pirates Week Office, Ms. McField will head the Pirates Week Committee, and will be responsible for the planning and execution of the national festival.

Ms McField takes over the management of the festival office after her recent tenure as Marketing and Events Officer at the Marketing and Communications Unit in the Ministry of Finance since 2012 and following a nine-year stint at the Department of Commerce and Investment (formerly The Cayman Islands Investment Bureau).

A graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration, which she achieved in 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a specialisation in Management Information Systems from the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida in 2000. She is a former volunteer with the Pirates Week Office.

Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Attraction Board Mr. Gilbert Connolly noted that there was substantial interest from local professionals in heading the Pirates Week Office and dozens of applications were received. Several high calibre candidates were shortlisted after a rigorous and intense assessment of all the applications received. “This necessitated not one, but two rounds of interviews to finally select the best from among several well qualified and experienced candidates,” he added.

“In the final analysis the selection process was rigorous, transparent and without political interference,” Mr Connolly stated.

Congratulating Ms McField on joining the TAB management team, Mr Connolly noted that her qualifications, experience and performance throughout the interview process made her first among equals for the post.

“Ms McField demonstrated that she possesses the organisational, leadership and analytical skills required for this very important role. In addition, she has strong creative skills and she brings a special passion for Caymanian culture. In selecting her, the TAB is confident that it has a candidate who is well suited to land on her feet and manage this year’s festival in short order, as well as plan for and ensure the future growth and development of the Pirates Week Office and festival,” he stated.

For her part, Ms McField said that she looked forward to the challenge of running the Pirates Week Office.

“I believe my experience in marketing and event management is an excellent match for the role and my ability to motivate a team and produce tangible results will provide the Pirates Week Office with excellent value for money in these times of austerity and given current imperatives for greater corporate governance. I look forward to working with the community to improve our national festival, which is an integral part of our tourism product,” she stated.