By Duncan Mackay

Former Glasgow 2014 deputy chief executive Ty Speer has been appointed head of Tourism Vancouver ©Tourism Vancouver Former Glasgow 2014 deputy chief executive Ty Speer has been appointed as the new head of Tourism Vancouver, it has been announced. 


The 48-year-old American had quit his role in Scotland in April, less than three months before the start of the Commonwealth Games to take up a "non-event role overseas".

It has now been revealed he will take over the marketing organisation of the city which hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. 

"I'm excited to join the team at Tourism Vancouver to build on the organisation's tremendous success to date and to work with the City, the Province and various stakeholders including Destination BC, the Canadian Tourism Commission, the Hotel Association of Vancouver and our members and partners in making Vancouver a must-visit destination for meeting planners, tour operators, consumers and travel journalists from key markets all over the world," said Speer.

Speer had joined Glasgow 2014 in November 2012 shortly after the end of the Olympics and Paralympics in London where he had been the client services manager.

At Glasgow 2014 he had led the commercial programme which has raised more £100 million ($168 million/€121 million) having attracted sponsorship from a range of blue-chip and international brands including BP, Ford, SSE, and Virgin Media.

Prior to joining London 2012 he had spent much of his career in Australia, including having worked as general manager sales and commercial for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Ty Speer will oversee the marketing organisation for Vancouver after leaving Glasgow 2014 ©Glasgow 2014Ty Speer will oversee the marketing organisation for Vancouver after leaving Glasgow 2014 ©Tourism Vancouver

Speer, a graduate of Duke University, replaces Rick Antonson, who has led Tourism Vancouver since 1993.

He is due to start his new role on July 14. 

"We're extremely fortunate to have secured the services of Ty whose extensive sales, marketing and senior international leadership background will help lead Tourism Vancouver through both busy and challenging times in the years ahead," said Bob Lindsay, the chairman of Tourism Vancouver.

"Ty will play a leading strategic role in continuing to move us forward as a preferred visitor destination and as an internationally respected organization, as well as in working with the City of Vancouver to implement the Tourism Master Plan, among other initiatives."

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