"Whistler-Blackcomb has become the largest resort in North America, but we must continually innovate in order to grow our business and remain at the top," explained Dave Browlie, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Whistler-Blackcomb.
The changes result in the creation of two teams, each focused around one of the two key objectives.
Doug Forseth, senior vice president of operations, will lead the team who "deliver the experience." His will be joined by Bob Dufour of mountain operations, Rick Temple from maintenance, Lynda Edwards from the food and beverage division, Ken Derpak from finance and Kirby Brown from employee experience. Guest Services will also be part of this group, reporting through Mountain Operations.
"This group will focus on re-energizing our product and our people to exceed guest expectations every day," said Forseth in a press release. "The strength in leadership and talent of this team is extremely deep. I’m very much looking forward to the results that will stem from this group."
Stuart Rempel, promoted to senior vice president of marketing and sales, will lead the "growing the business" team. This team will be comprised of the marketing and sales management team as well as Todd Friesen from retail rental, and Rob McSkimming from the ski school and mountain bike park. This team will work to bring more guests to the resort.
"The responsibility for attracting guests to the resort and of capturing their business while in the resort will be trusted to this talented group," explained Rempel. "I’m delighted to be leading this team into the next phase of Whistler Blackcomb’s development, as a closer liaison between these divisions will result in the development and implementation of increasingly innovative strategies to grow our business."
In addition to these changes, Bob Dufour has been promoted to vice-president of mountain operations and will continue to run the day-to-day operations of the mountains with the added responsibility of the Guest Services Division.
Rob McSkimming has been promoted to VP of business development, in charge of expanding business opportunities both in the winter and summer seasons. He will also continue to lead the Ski School, Mountain Biking, and Festivals & Events divisions.
Todd Friesen has been promoted to vice president of retail rental and will continue to lead this division in Whistler, Panorama, and Banff as well as taking a leadership role across the Intrawest Network.
Fiona Cull will step out of the day-to-day operations as director of guest services and will work with Mike Whitmell, the director of IT, to lead the development and implementation of the resort-wide point-of-sale system, know as RTP, across the Intrawest Resort Network.
"I would like to congratulate everyone in the appointment to their new roles," commented Brownlie. "I look forward to working with this talented and motivated team to raise the bar on every aspect of our business and set the stage for the world to come to Whistler in 2010."
