Christopher Concepcion
CHRISTOPHER A. Concepcion, managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority, has formally tendered his resignation to the MVA board of directors.
Concepcion told Variety that under his contract he has 30 days to notify the board of his resignation. He said he personally informed Gov. Arnold I. Palacios that he is resigning.
Asked why he decided to resign, he said he has received a “better offer.” He declined to elaborate.
In his Jan. 15, 2025 letter to the MVA board of directors, Concepcion said:
“I am writing to formally resign from my position…effective Feb. 28, 2025.
“It has been an incredible honor to once again lead the MVA since May 2023. I have greatly valued the opportunity to work alongside such a dedicated team, and I am proud of all we have accomplished together in promoting our Commonwealth despite the many ordeals we faced. Our work has brought much success, and many challenges, but I truly believe in the continued potential of our team. However, after careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to step down from my role in order to pursue other professional opportunities. I am confident that this decision is in the best interest of both myself and the MVA moving forward.
“During my remaining time, I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will provide my full support in identifying a suitable successor or assisting with any transitional processes. Please let me know how I can be of help in this regard.
“Thank you once again for the opportunity to contribute to the achievements of the MVA. I will always hold this experience in the highest regard and wish the MVA board of directors, management, and staff continued success in the future.”
Concepcion was a Delta Airlines executive before he became MVA’s managing director in 2016. He resigned in 2019 to serve as deputy director of the Office of Planning & Development under the Office of the Governor. He again assumed the MVA managing director’s post in May 2023.
‘New chapter’
MVA Board Chair Gloria Cavanagh said they “stand firmly behind [Concepcion] as he embarks on this new chapter. Wherever he goes next, I am confident he will continue to represent the Commonwealth with pride and conviction.”
Cavanagh said while Concepcion “chose not to reveal his next career move, I have no doubt he will tackle it with the same commitment and excellence he has demonstrated over the past two years. The position of managing director at MVA is tough and often thankless; many may think they can do it better, but very few actually dare to take on the challenge. Like me, Chris has faced significant adversity and criticism, yet he has always prioritized the needs of the CNMI and performed admirably.”
She said with “Chris’s departure, the team will lose a strong and respected leader. Nevertheless, he will be here through February to ensure a seamless transition of authority.”
‘Well wishes’
In a separate statement, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said, “We extend our well wishes to…Concepcion in his future endeavors. His leadership has influenced the direction of MVA and the tourism industry, and we hope he finds success in his next chapter.”
Unfortunately, Palacios added, “this comes at a time when the tourism industry is facing challenges, such as post-pandemic recovery efforts and change in visitor demographics. This creates both uncertainty as well as opportunities for new leadership to address these issues and bring new ideas or approaches that could benefit the tourism landscape.”
Overall, the governor said, “this transition is a pivotal moment for the Marianas Visitors Authority and the choice of the next [managing] director will be crucial for steering the direction of tourism in the CNMI as well as building relationships with stakeholders moving forward. It will be important for MVA to communicate its vision clearly during this transition to maintain confidence among both industry partners and visitors.”
