A longtime Tourism London employee has been tapped to take over the reins of the city's tourism agency.
Cheryl Finn was announced on Tuesday as the new manager of Tourism London effective immediately. Finn takes over for John Winston, who after 18 years as the city's tourism boss, announced in March he would retire from the post on July 4.
“We are very pleased that Cheryl has accepted this role and look forward to working with her as she takes on the leadership of Tourism London,” Scott Stafford, the city's managing director of parks and recreation, said in a statement. “Cheryl has been a key member of the Tourism London team and has done great work to develop, coordinate and evaluate opportunities for sports tourism initiatives here in London.”
Finn has served as Tourism London's director of sport tourism for the past 12 years. She has been instrumental in bringing high profile provincial, national, and international sporting events to the city, including ISU World Figure Skating Championships in 2013. Most recently, Finn played a key role in helping London land the 2020 Continental Cup of Curling, which will be held over four days next January at the Western Fair District Sports Centre.
Winston shocked many by making his retirement plans public just one day after the city successfully hosted the Juno Awards. It led the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Tourism London to launch a three-month search for his replacement.
“John’s legacy goes well beyond the way he’s bolstered tourism in our community," said Bob Usher, chair of the London Tourism Board. "He has built a strong organization and has fostered leadership development in his colleagues, including Cheryl. We wish John the best as he prepares for his next adventure.”
