Luxe rail icon Rocky Mountaineer is kicking off the new year with a warm welcome to its newly appointed CEO and president David McKenna.

McKenna, who serves as the board chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, took the reins on 4 January.

“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,” McKenna said.

“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. I am both humbled and thrilled to be a part of the team responsible for designing and achieving the next phase for Rocky Mountaineer.”

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

As Rocky Mountaineer’s president and CEO, McKenna will lead the company in rebuilding the business from the impact of the pandemic and identify and develop new tourism experiences in global destinations.

“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,” John Furlong, chair of the board of directors at Rocky Mountaineer said.

“We are in the process of building this company to be stronger, more resilient, and more impactful than ever before. There are exciting days ahead for Rocky Mountaineer, so we are delighted that David will be the one to lead the way, grow the business, and inspire and empower our team members to achieve great success.”

“We are incredibly pleased to welcome David to the team. He is no stranger to the impact the pandemic has had on tourism, and his experience and fortitude in strengthening business foundations, identifying, and developing new tourism opportunities, and engaging and coaching team members will be essential to the long-term success of this company,” Peter Armstrong, the founder of Rocky Mountaineer, said.

“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.”