Rocky Mountaineer has welcomed David McKenna as its new president and chief executive officer. The Canadian tourism veteran, who officially began conducting the Vancouver-based luxury train company’s affairs on Jan. 4, is a prominent leader in the domestic tourism industry who also serves as board chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

Prior to joining Rocky Mountaineer, McKenna was president at the Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit where he led tourism expansion and acquisition projects in the Canadian Rockies.

At Rocky Mountaineer, his purview includes leading the company in rebuilding the business from the impact of the pandemic, but also identifying and developing new tourism experiences in global destinations.

Describing him as a “tourism visionary, champion and innovator,” Rocky Mountaineer board chair John Furlong says McKenna will be instrumental in “the process of building this company to be stronger, more resilient, and more impactful than ever before,” adding, “There are exciting days ahead for Rocky Mountaineer…”

Peter Armstrong, who founded the company in 1990, noted, “David has been a business partner of Rocky Mountaineer for more than 15 years; he knows our product and has worked with many of our team members. We look forward to his leadership in navigating the continuing challenges while also preparing the business for future growth.”

McKenna says that despite the challenges of the past 21 months (during the pandemic), there is a sense of optimism at Rocky Mountaineer.

“From the iconic routes through the Canadian Rockies, to the newest route in the American Southwest, to compelling opportunities yet to be uncovered, the future is bright for this globally renowned tourism team,” he stated. “I am both humbled and thrilled to be a part of the team responsible for designing and achieving the next phase for Rocky Mountaineer.”