The Board of Directors of the Orange County Visitors Association (OCVA) has announced it has appointed internationally recognized travel and hospitality industry leader, Ed Fuller, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization, effective immediately.

Mr. Fuller currently is President and Co-Founder of locally-based Laguna Strategic Advisors, a consortium of independent business executives.

Concurrently, Laguna Strategic Advisors member Chip Stuckmeyer was named Vice President of Project Management and long-time Orange County tourism leader Anita Vanaman was named Vice President of Administration of the Association.

“We are delighted that someone with the renowned industry expertise and acumen of Ed Fuller will help us take advantage of the many economic and cultural opportunities tourism affords Orange County,” said Gary Sherwin, OCVA Board Chairman.

“The OC (Orange County) is a brand with worldwide tourism appeal,” said Ed Fuller. “We are eager to start working with local tourism leaders, stakeholders and potential strategic partners to showcase the best Orange County has to offer to attract our fair share of the more than $100 billion in tourism spending generated in California each year.”

Mr. Fuller brings more than 40 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry to his new role. Most recently, he was President and Managing Director of Marriott International’s International Lodging Division where, for more than two decades, he led the company’s global expansion into more than 70 countries and helped grow the company’s international annual sales from $350 million to more than $8 billion. In addition, he is a noted educator in hospitality management at several institutions in California and Massachusetts, including the University of California at Irvine and at California State University at Pomona and serves as a Commissioner of Travel and Tourism in California. He is also the best-selling author of “You Can’t Lead With Your Feet on the Desk,” which recounts episodes from his colorful career.

Orange County Visitors Association, www.visittheoc.com