SearchWide Global Seeking Chief Diversity Officer for Destinations International 

December 3, 2021 – Executive recruitment firm SearchWide Global has been chosen by Destinations International to lead its search for a new chief diversity officer. Senior vice president Kellie Henderson is leading the assignment.

The chief diversity officer will provide leadership, coordination and strategic direction for the design and implementation of an organizational strategy that focuses the associations’ commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). This executive has overall responsibility for developing and implementing EDI strategies both within the organization, and externally across member organizations and the broader tourism industry. According to SearchWide, the position plays an essential role by collaborating with senior management to lead and engage strategic planning and programmatic development initiatives and opportunities to enable structural social change for the benefit our member’s communities focused on five core priorities: self-awareness and personal investment, education and awareness, community engagement, workforce/talent development, and branding and promotion.


2021 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Recruiting Report:
Building a Balanced and Diverse Workforce

Hunt Scanlon Media’s latest market intelligence recruiting report – this time focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – will be available later this fall! The nation’s top executive recruiters are resetting expectations and looking for new ways forward to build balanced and diverse workforce teams for their clients.

According to executive recruiters, DE&I should not just be a priority, but an integrated part of every company’s leadership goals. Some companies have even tied DE&I metrics to executive compensation. But it’s more than that.

Part of building strong, diverse hiring teams means asking yourself: “Who is my company culture going to attract – and how will it engage people who are here?” This question can be very difficult to answer if you assume everyone feels welcome already just because you do. Fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within organizations is more than just the right ethical decision. “It is one of the best business decisions a company can make,” said Keri Gavin, a partner with Hanold Associates and leader of the search firm’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practice. Hanold Associates is a proud sponsor of this year’s report. This report will help organizations prioritize DE&I as a business imperative that drives greater competitiveness, innovation and business results. Get it now! 


The company notes that this position description is not designed to cover or contain all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the team member for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Desired education, experience and necessary knowledge include:

  • Four-plus year degree preferred
  • Five-plus years of experience in the field
  • CDE or CDP certification preferred
  • Developing, promoting, supporting and implementing strategies with a focus equity, diversity, inclusion and community relations initiatives
  • Technical mastery of diversity issues
  • In-depth perspective on organizational change
  • Politically savvy

Related: SearchWide Global Assists Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Visit Big Sky in CEO Search 

  • Policy development and management principles
  • Experience public speaking and publishing articles

As the global trade association for official destination organizations and convention and visitor bureaus, Destinations International protects and advances the success of destination marketing worldwide. Destinations International’s membership includes over 600 official destination organizations with more than 6,000 members in over 15 countries that command more than $2 billion in annual budgets.

Experienced Recruiters

SearchWide Global, based in St. Paul, MN, is a full-service executive recruitment firm primarily for companies in the travel, tourism, hospitality, convention, trade association, venue management and experiential marketing industries. The firm specializes in C-level and director-level executive searches for companies ranging in size from Fortune 500 corporations to mid-sized public and private companies and associations.


SearchWide Global Finds CEO for Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
SearchWide Global placed Martha Sheridan as president and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mike Gamble, president and chief executive officer of SearchWide Global, led the assignment along with vice president, Kellie Henderson. In coming to Boston, Ms. Sheridan became just the second woman, currently, to lead a first-tier market Convention & Visitors Bureau in the U.S.


Ms. Henderson works in all sectors of hospitality, travel and tourism. She has experience recognizing clients’ needs, identifying best-in-class talent. She also leads SearchWide Global’s industry-wide diversity initiative. She serves on the Destinations International Foundation board of trustees is involved in several other industry organizations. Previously, Ms. Henderson worked in the destination marketing organization and hotel industry.

Related: SearchWide Global Assists the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau in CEO Search

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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