Bula to the chief

STARTING a new job is a frantic and nervous experience for most, but perhaps businesses should take a leaf out of Tourism Fiji’s human resources manual, who this week welcomed its new CEO Brent Hill and his wife Kellie (pictured) with the full colour and warmth of the Bula spirit.

While still respecting important social distancing regulations, the team at the Nadi-based tourism body made Hill know how optimistic they are for the professional successes he will bring to the country’s tourism sector in the months and years ahead as global travel bounces back from the pandemic.

Hill was recruited in Jul (TD 13 Jul) to fill the void left by Matt Stoeckel, who departed the position to take up the leadership role of Chief Executive Officer with Visit Sunshine Coast.

Hill has made the sea change to work in Fiji from his native Adelaide, where he held a number of important marketing roles over the last 15 years, including a six-year stint as the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Executive Director of Marketing and two years as the National Marketing Manager for Harris Scarfe Australia.

Hill also knows what it takes to deliver upon the expectations of discerning customers, having owned a cafe called Lavazza Cafe 227 for three years between 2007 and 2010.