The chief sales and marketing officer at the Bermuda Tourism Authority has left the organisation after little more than a year in his post.

Douglas Trueblood was hired by the BTA in January 2021 to replace Victoria Isley, who had left the previous November for a position in the United States.

But an e-mail sent this week to “partners and stakeholders” by Charles Jeffers II, the BTA chief executive officer, revealed Mr Trueblood had departed.

Mr Jeffers wrote: “Please be advised that our chief sales and marketing officer, Douglas Trueblood, is no longer with the organisation.

“Until we secure his replacement, I invite you to reach out to me for any sales-related queries.”

The e-mail did not reveal why Mr Trueblood, said by his LinkedIn page to be based in New York, had left in March.

It is understood that BTA marketing director Amanda Dempsey has also left the authority.

Mr Jeffers wrote that he would assume responsibility for sales until a replacement for Mr Trueblood was found, while chief administration officer Tracey Berkeley would take on marketing and chief information officer Erin Smith would handle communications.

In a statement released late yesterday afternoon, the BTA confirmed that Mr Trueblood was no longer with the organisation.

A BTA spokeswoman said: “Mr Jeffers emphasised his confidence in the company’s sales and marketing teams and the commitment of BTA’s executive team to support the transition.”

The Royal Gazette also asked Vance Campbell, the new tourism minister, if he was concerned about a lack of leadership in tourism marketing at a critical time for the island.

Mr Campbell replied last night: “The management of the BTA’s operations, including staffing matters, is entirely for the board and the executive team of the authority.

“The Government of Bermuda is committed to working with the BTA to achieve the clear objectives set out in the Bermuda Tourism Authority Act in the implementation of the National Tourism Plan and principally to develop and promote Bermuda as a tourist destination.

“I am looking forward to meeting with the board to discuss this and how the Government can best assist them in achieving these objectives.”