A NEW managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority is expected to be named this week by the MVA board of directors, tourism authorities said.
“We’ll have one very soon. In fact, this person will be reporting to MVA beginning this week,” a tourism official who requested anonymity told the Variety.
The source said the board would be appointing Jonas Ogren, former general manager of Rota Resort and Country Club, to the post.
Ogren was said to have left the company last month.
Since the resignation of former MVA managing director Perry Tenorio in January this year, neither the board nor Gov. Juan N. Babauta has made any final announcement on the appointment of a new MVA head.
In an interview, MVA board member Marian Aldan-Pierce, declined to confirm Orgen’s appointment.
She said though that the board has interviewed three or four applicants, and based on that, Ogren seemed to have “the strongest showing.”
Pierce also acknowledged the urgent need for a permanent MVA chief, and expressed hopes to see a new appointee this week.
“I hope to see a new managing director. Hopefully, this week. You see, the soonest we get one, the better for the whole agency,” she said.
“It’s a very important position so it needs to be filled soon. This is not to underestimate the efforts of the acting managing director Vicky Benavente who is doing a wonderful job at MVA,” she said.
Other MVA officials including board chairman David Sablan were contacted for comments but they could not be reached as of press time.
Earlier reports said the job was first offered to Benavente, who has been with MVA for several years now, but she declined because she also faces some obligations as the spouse of Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente.
Mrs. Benavente, a mother of four children, said she is happy to remain in her current position as MVA deputy managing director.
