CLIA has hired longtime government official Kelly Craighead to
be the cruise line trade group's president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2019.
Craighead will take over the role currently held by Cindy D'Aoust,
who in July said she would leave CLIA by year's end.
Kelly Craighead
Craighead was executive director of the National Travel and
Tourism Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2011 to 2017. She also
held the title of deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism.
During the Clinton administration, Craighead served on the
White House staff as an aide to Hillary Clinton. Craighead led the Democracy
Alliance, a network of wealthy donors who coordinate donations to liberal
organizations, from 2006 to 2013.
"I am extremely pleased that Kelly will be joining CLIA
to support the global cruise industry during this golden age of cruising. Her extensive experience in the hospitality
and travel industries, combined with her leadership skills and passion for
results, are second to none," said Arnold Donald, global CLIA chairman and
CEO of Carnival Corp.