Susan Gurley, executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, will resign from her position on Dec. 1.

ACTE said Gurley informed ACTE’s board of directors in the summer that she wished to return to government service. She has been ACTE’s executive director for the past four years.

Megan Costello, currently deputy executive director, will replace Gurley on an interim basis. A search committee has been formed to find a permanent replacement.

Gurley has agreed to remain in an advisory capacity with ACTE through Jan. 1.

"Susan Gurley saw ACTE’s greatest expansion throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East,” said ACTE President Richard Crum. “Under her direction, ACTE convened the first Latin American, Canadian and African regional conferences and business travel management forums in Russia, India and Nigeria."

Crum added that Gurley had security recommendations ready for the traveling public in the wake of the Mumbai hotel bombings and advised the Obama administration about a potential Internet overload in the event of a global outbreak of H1N1.