John Rae, most recently part of the Resort Communications Group, has been appointed Director, Strategic Alliances for Tourism Whistler.
Rae will be responsible for identifying and establishing alliances with Tourism Whistler private and public sector partners to enhance Whistler's brand, market position and marketing reach. He will play a key role on the Tourism Whistler senior management team to build on existing marketing programs and partnerships, and develop new initiatives.
"The Tourism Whistler team is very pleased to have John Rae onboard," President Suzanne Denbak said in a release. "With his vast marketing experience and strategic planning expertise, John is the ideal match for this important new position. John will be responsible for fostering exciting new alliances and opportunities, which will not only complement our marketing programs, but in turn, benefit Tourism Whistler members."
Rae has been a Whistler resident for the past three years. He joined the Resort Communications Group in 1999, where his strategic planning skills and effective relationship building as a company principal were integral to that company’s success. RCG was a partnership involving Rae, Doug Perry and Don McQuaid. The company was best known for creation and management of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival, but it had also managed the WinterStart festival.
The RCG partners announced in June that the company was splitting into three separately run businesses, due to rapid expansion and growing internal diversification. Perry retained the RCG name and event management side of the business. McQuaid is operating Whistler Resort TV. Rae was to become director of strategic planning for Media Collateral Limited, which had plans to become a full-service advertising agency. With his appointment at Tourism Whistler those plans are now on hold.
Prior to coming to Whistler, Rae was Director of Marketing and New Product Development with Kelloggs. Rae was also Vice President, Group Account Director at J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, where his portfolio of clients included IBM, Warner Lambert, Kraft and others.
Rae has completed his orientation program at Tourism Whistler, and is a fully integrated member of the executive team. His office is located in the Whistler Conference Centre.
