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Interim CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater resigns for Memphis Zoo job

 
Jim Dean took over as interim director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater after exiting his role as the park CEO of SeaWorld Orlando. He’s now leaving for a job in Memphis. (Courtesy of Jim Dean)
Jim Dean took over as interim director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater after exiting his role as the park CEO of SeaWorld Orlando. He’s now leaving for a job in Memphis. (Courtesy of Jim Dean)
Published April 10, 2019

After just two months as the interim CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, Jim Dean is leaving the Pinellas County office for a new job.

"Jim said it was a difficult decision but he has a rare opportunity to lead an organization in his hometown," county administrator Barry Burton wrote in Wednesday memo to staff. "I want to thank Jim for coming to Pinellas County and assuming the interim position and wish him well in his new position."

Dean has accepted a CEO position at the Memphis Zoo, according to the park's board of directors. He grew up in Memphis and received his undergraduate degree in engineering from the University of Memphis. His last day at the tourism bureau is Friday.

Dean said in a statement he was excited to return to his hometown after more than three decades away.

"Visit St. Pete/Clearwater is a great organization with a talented and motivated team that has unlimited potential," Dean said in a statement. "Great work is being done as our tourism results continue to show promise for the summer and the remainder of the year as we have enjoyed a very successful spring."

The tourism agency's previous CEO, David Downing, left suddenly at the start of the year after the Tampa Bay Times submitted public records requests seeking information about agency expenses. Although Dean's appointment was temporary, he told the Times he hoped to be picked as the agency's permanent CEO.

Burton announced in March he hired Minnesota-based Searchwide Global, which specializes in finding leadership in the tourism industry, to find the next head of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.

Dean had not previously served as the head of a tourism promotion agency. He made his name in theme parks, most recently as the president of SeaWorld Orlando, and spent the bulk of his 30-year career with Busch Gardens. An online posting for the Memphis Zoo job went up around the time Dean started in Pinellas County. The zoo's former chief executive had announced his retirement plans the year before.

Dean's new gig will require him to manage a roughly $16 million budget. Meanwhile, the head of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater manages about $40 million, which is largely spent on marketing Pinellas County to tourists. That money comes from the 6 percent tax collected on overnight stays within the county.

Burton said assistant county administrator Paul Sacco will take over the interim CEO role while also moving into the position of director of solid waste.

Joe Lauro, the director of purchasing for Pinellas County, will move into Sacco's former role and oversee the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Technology and Innovation, real estate management and purchasing and risk.

Burton wrote the new roles begin April 15.

Contact Sara DiNatale at sdinatale@tampabay.com. Follow @sara_dinatale.