VANCOUVER — Rocky Mountaineer has a new President and CEO at its helm.

David McKenna, who assumed his new role on Jan. 4, previously served as President at the Banff Jasper Collection by Pursuit, where he led tourism expansion and acquisition projects in the Canadian Rockies. He currently serves as the Board Chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

As Rocky Mountaineer’s President and CEO, McKenna will not only lead the company in rebuilding the business post-pandemic, but also develop new tourism experiences in global destinations.

“I am thrilled to join the Rocky Mountaineer team at this exciting time in the company’s 32-year history. Despite the challenges of the past 21 months, there is a sense of optimism at Rocky Mountaineer that can be felt across the team,” says McKenna. “I am both humbled and thrilled to be a part of the team responsible for designing and achieving the next phase for Rocky Mountaineer.”

John Furlong, Chair, Board of Directors of Rocky Mountaineer, added: “Rocky Mountaineer is an iconic tourism experience, a global champion. So it is fitting we have a tourism visionary, champion and innovator as our new President and CEO … Over a distinguished career, David has demonstrated his passion, dedication and resolve for advancing tourism, and we now look forward to David bringing these traits and more to the team. We are in the process of building this company to be stronger, more resilient and more impactful than ever before.”

McKenna also has the support of Rocky Mountaineer founder Peter Armstrong, who said he is “incredibly pleased” to welcome him to the team.

“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,” said Armstrong.

Due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, Rocky Mountaineer was forced to suspend its entire 2020 season and the first part of the 2021 season. It resumed train operations in July 21 with limited capacity and extensive health and safety protocols in place. Over the following three months, the company welcomed close to 10,000 travellers despite a shortened season.

At this time, Rocky Mountaineer is expecting to operate a full 2022 season, which runs from April to October.