BTA Appoint Michael DeCouto & Kiara Isaac
The Board of Directors of the Bermuda Tourism Authority [BTA] today announced the appointment of Michael DeCouto as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer and Kiara Isaac as Director of People and Culture, strengthening the organisation’s executive leadership and operations team.
A spokesperson said, “Michael DeCouto has been appointed Chief Sales & Marketing Officer [CSMO]. In this role, he will provide strategic leadership for the Authority’s global sales and marketing activities, including brand management, digital marketing, partnerships, public relations and visitor experiences. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, he will work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to support the objectives of Bermuda’s National Tourism Plan and to strengthen the island’s competitive position in key international markets.
“DeCouto brings senior leadership experience across destination marketing, financial services, digital transformation and brand strategy. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Digital & Marketing Officer at Clarien Bank, where he oversaw integrated marketing, digital platforms, payments, product strategy and corporate communications. During this period, the organisation achieved sustained revenue growth, expanded digital engagement, and continued development of brand governance and operating practices.
“Earlier in his career, DeCouto held senior leadership roles with the Bermuda Department of Tourism, where he was responsible for global consumer marketing, brand repositioning, and international campaign execution. During this time, Bermuda experienced increased visitor arrivals, improved visitor spend and enhanced brand awareness across key source markets.”
Commenting on the appointment, BTA Acting Chair William “Billy” Griffith said: “Michael brings deep institutional knowledge of Bermuda’s tourism landscape, coupled with strong commercial and digital expertise. The Board is confident that his leadership will support the Authority’s mandate to deliver disciplined, efficient, market-responsive sales and marketing strategies that drive sustainable growth and value for the island.”
Mr DeCouto said, “I am pleased to return to destination marketing at a time when Bermuda is focused on strengthening demand, improving yield and ensuring that tourism growth delivers broad economic benefit. I look forward to working closely with the Board, the executive team and industry partners to advance these priorities.”
The spokesperson said, “The Authority has appointed Kiara Isaac as Director of People and Culture. In this role, she will lead the organisation’s people strategy and human resources functions, with a focus on strengthening leadership capability, cultivating a high-performance culture, and ensuring the Authority is equipped with the talent and skills required to deliver on its mandate. Her portfolio includes workforce planning, employee relations, succession planning and career pathways, standards and training, and performance management.”
“I am excited to join the Authority and to work alongside its talented team,” said Ms Isaac. “My focus will be on creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow, with clear pathways for development and leadership, and a culture that enables everyone to contribute their best.”
The spokesperson said, “Isaac brings extensive experience in strategic people leadership across public-sector and healthcare environments, with a strong track record of partnering with executive teams to drive organisational effectiveness in complex and highly regulated settings. Prior to joining the BTA, she served as an HR Business Partner with the Bermuda Government, working closely with Permanent Secretaries and senior leaders across multiple departments to support workforce strategy, organisational design, leadership development, and talent management.
“Previously, she held senior human resources roles with the Bermuda Hospitals Board, where she supported large and diverse workforces and played a key role in advancing people-centred initiatives during periods of organisational transformation and growth, with an emphasis on change leadership, capability building, and employee engagement.
“Isaac holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from the University of Birmingham and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
“The Board noted that these appointments reflect a continued focus on strengthening governance, leadership capacity, and organisational effectiveness across the Authority.
“Separately, the Board confirmed that the process to appoint a substantive Chief Executive Officer is underway and will conclude following the completion of all required assessments. The Board is committed to selecting the right leader to advance Bermuda’s tourism sector and to ensuring the appointment reflects the Authority’s long-term strategic needs.’”
