ATA Executive Director, Edward Bergman, has announced his departure as of December 31, 2015 as the leader of the organization.
Bergman stated, “It is with mixed emotions that I will be stepping down at the end of this year from the position of Executive Director. It has truly been an honor to serve ATA for nearly 10 years and am confident that the organization is in a place of strength and will continue its 40 year legacy of advancing the important mission of promoting tourism to and within the African continent. I look forward to staying in touch and can be reached through www.eddiebergman.com”.
The ATA International Board of Directors has recognized that Edward Bergman as Executive Director has exceptionally, loyally and faithfully served the Association since 2006. Under Mr. Bergman’s leadership ATA organized 9 Annual Congresses from 2007 to 2015 in Ethiopia,
Tanzania, Egypt, The Gambia, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Uganda and Kenya respectively; and 2 Eco and Cultural Symposiums in Nigeria and Djibouti. Mr. Bergman also launched the Annual ATA Presidential Forum in conjunction with New York University-Africa House in 2006 and the U.S.-Africa Tourism Seminar from 2008 to 2014.
ATA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2010 with the African Union Commission for the promotion of the sustainable development of tourism in Africa and Bergman was recently appointed Goodwill Ambassador for NEPAD, a role in which he will continue. The ATA membership continues to grow with strong corporate support from the private sector.
The Board has actively been working on a succession plan which is near completion and the ATA Secretariat has confirmed that an announcement will be made over the coming weeks by the ATA Board of Directors as to the future leadership of the Association
