Denver, CO (August 24, 2011) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – today revealed the results of its annual Board of Directors elections at the GBTA Convention in Denver.  Jim McMullan, global travel manager of Research Triangle Institute, will serve as the new president and CEO.  Kevin Maguire, CCTE, GLP, travel manager for Intercollegiate Athletics for the University of Texas at Austin, will serve as the new GBTA vice president.  McMullan and Maguire were elected by GBTA Direct members (business travel buyers), and will serve two year terms beginning today, the last day of the Convention. 

Jim McMullan commented, “I am honored to accept the position of president of GBTA, the premier association for global business travel.  During the next two years, my focus will be on the members—encouraging them to get involved, from the local chapter level, to participating on committees and taskforces.  I will help better connect all our chapter members to our global association which provides a host of benefits, including the new global networking platform, the GBTA HUB, the GBTA Academy, offering the best education, and our worldwide resources with the newly established digital resource library.  I will continue to focus on the return on investment in being an active member of GBTA.  For all that our members put into this association—I promise--more will come back to them.”

“The entire business travel industry benefits from the dedication of our association, from education and professional development opportunities to industry research and advocacy.  I am looking forward to continuing to work with the members of the Board to expand GBTA’s global outreach, increase member services, and continue to be the leading voice of business travel.”

McMullan has been a GBTA member for 10 years, serving most recently as vice president.  He also served as president of the Chapter Presidents’ Council and chapter president and treasurer of the St. Louis Business Travel Association.  

Maguire has been a GBTA member for 17 years.  He has held multiple GBTA leadership roles including president and chairman of GBTA, president of the GBTA Chapter Presidents' Council, chairman of GBTA Europe and member of multiple GBTA committees. He was also president and chairman of the Austin Business Travel Association.

The GBTA Allied Members elected Doug Payne, senior vice president—Corporate Sales, ALTOUR to be the Allied Member Director at Large.  He will serve a two year term, beginning today.

GBTA President appointed Scott Solombrino, president and CEO of Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network, President of the Allied Leadership Council and Joe Carino, Jr., president and CEO, CARINO Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Vice President of the Allied Leadership Council.  Solombrino and Carino will serve a two year term, beginning today. 

The GBTA Chapter Presidents’ Council elected Denise Truso, global travel manager, St. Jude Medical, president of the Chapter Presidents’ Council. Truso will serve a two year term, beginning today.

The GBTA Board of Directors consists of fourteen members, including ten travel buyers and four suppliers.  GBTA Board elections are held each year in conjunction with the annual GBTA Convention. 

Global Advisory Members

The GBTA Board of Directors appointed Caroline Strachan, global category  leader, Business Travel, Astra Zeneca and Floyd Widener, vice president of Sales and Global Program Management (EMEA), Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

The GBTA Convention, with nearly than 6,000 attendees, is the largest, most comprehensive annual gathering of business travel and meetings managers, meeting planners, procurement professionals and suppliers anywhere in the world. The Business Travel Event of the Year® features: more than 70 industry-leading education sessions organized into 20+ specialized tracks geared to specific levels of experience and a variety of disciplines; a 400+ company Exposition showcasing market choices not available at other industry gatherings; sessions featuring world-renowned speakers and industry leaders; a wide selection of professional development opportunities; and, much more. For more information on the GBTA Convention, visit gbta.org/convention.