DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The grouped tasked with promoting tourism for the City of Dallas announced Thursday it has hired an Interim CEO. The announcement came a day after it was made public that former CEO Phillip Jones and ‘Visit Dallas’ mutually agreed to part ways.
VisitDallas appointed former airline executive and veteran business and civic leader, Sam Coats, as the organization’s Interim CEO.
Coats has had a diverse career within the airlines industry, as a corporate turnaround specialist, lawyer, public servant, and civic leader. He has served as CEO of six different companies, including two airlines, Schlotzsky’s, Inc., and the world’s leading provider of revenue optimization software systems for the global airline industry. He served in senior management positions at four airlines, including Braniff, Southwest and Continental. Coats is also a former board chairman of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Sam’s expertise in the travel and airline industries, civic service and as a corporate leader make him uniquely suited to lead VisitDallas during this critical transition period,” said Mark Woelffer, VisitDallas board chair. “He has a demonstrated ability to act as a stabilizer during times of change, which will serve VisitDallas well as we enter a new chapter for the organization with new leadership. VisitDallas is in good hands while we work to continue to achieve great results for Dallas and identify the organization’s new leader.”
Coats will participate and assist in the formal search process for VisitDallas’ next Chief Executive Officer. A search committee has already been appointed and will be led by incoming Board Chair for VisitDallas, Joyce Williams.
“It is an enormous privilege to work alongside VisitDallas, its amazing staff and its partners, who have some of the most impressive tourism expertise in the nation,” said Coats. “I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that VisitDallas has the full trust and confidence of the City of Dallas, its elected officials and its citizens as it continues to make Dallas one of the top convention and visitor destinations in the nation.”
Visit Dallas came under fire earlier this year with reports of questionable spending by then CEO Phillip Jones, that led to an audit of the organization. But Joyce Williams, VisitDallas incoming board chair, insisted the decision for Jones to leave the organization was mutual.
“No staff, including the CEO, had any wrongdoing,” Williams said.
Coats will serve as Interim CEO of VisitDallas until a new full-time chief executive officer is hired by the organization’s board of directors.
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