Perth Convention Bureau CEO Paul Beeson has announced his resignation after more than eight years in the role and 11 years with the bureau.

On his decision to step down from the role, Beeson said it was timely given “tourism leadership in Western Australia is undergoing renewal”.

“Many industry organisations in our state have or are currently undergoing such change,” he said.

“Renewal is critical in any organisation, particularly those that are marketing focused.

“Marketing is very much driven by the competitive set environment; continual innovation is critical to ensure the competitive edge and can only be gained through fresh ideas and the new talent that provides them.”

Perth Convention Bureau (PCB) chairman Kevin Skipworth said Beeson has made an “outstanding contribution” to the bureau and will be a “great loss”.

“He has applied his excellent leadership and strategic management skills in overviewing the operation of the bureau and is leaving the organisation in excellent shape,” said Skipworth.

“I have observed from unsolicited comments that Paul is held in high regard by leaders in the tourism industry and I take this opportunity to thank Paul for the enormous support and guidance he has afforded me personally since my appointment as chairman in November 2016 and I wish him success in his future endeavours.”

Beeson said he was grateful to the bureau’s board, stakeholders and the friends of PCB locally, nationally and internationally who have supported PCB over the years.

He added a note of personal thanks to the Premier, the Honourable Mark McGowan MLA, and Minister for Tourism, the Honourable Paul Papalia CSC, MLA, whose “attention, wisdom and foresight” ensured PCB’s high value and highly efficient work was supported.

In the 2017-2018 financial year, PCB secured convention and incentive travel business worth more than $141 million in direct delegate expenditure.