Bangkok -- David Scowsill will step down in June as president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) after six years.
WTTC made the announcement at its annual Global Summit here, and said a successor had not been picked. Under Scowsill, who came on in 2010 as the third president in the 26-year history of the WTTC, the organization's membership has doubled.
"Under his leadership and vision, WTTC is clearly positioned as the private sector authority on travel and tourism, reflected in the calibre and geographic diversity of the membership group," stated Gerald Lawless, WTTC chairman.
Lawless told Travel Weekly that the recruiting process to find a new CEO was "well on its way."
"We feel very confident that there will be no disruption of [the organization's] business," he added.
Scowsill used his final opportunity as CEO during the WTTC Summit to urge the travel and tourism industry to pledge to make a difference.
"Is it too much to ask?" he said to the audience, that the tourism industry lead the world in the "eradication of poverty, cleaning up the oceans, and protecting habitats."
Prior to WTTC, Scowsill was chairman or director of various private equity and venture capital companies. He also served as chief executive of Opodo and the Minit Group and held executive and board positions at Hilton Hotels, American Airlines and British Airways.
"I now look forward to focusing on new opportunities, knowing that I am leaving WTTC in great shape," Scowsill said in a statement.