Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Simon Latchford has announced his resignation after almost four years in the role.

Latchford was appointed CEO in August 2016 after working for over a year as head of marketing and strategic relationships.

During his tenure, Latchford was responsible for bolstering the region’s tourism profile, with the Sunshine Coast achieving record results in the National and International Visitor Surveys for 2019.

The Sunshine Coast was also Queensland’s fastest growing region in 2019 in terms of visitor numbers and visitor expenditure.

Visit Sunshine Coast chair David Ryan said Latchford will take an extended break with his family before considering his next career move.

“Simon arrived on the Sunshine Coast at a time when the organisation was facing acute pressures, and in the four years he has been at the helm, he has charted a significant new direction for the organisation,”  said Ryan.

“He has worked closely to strengthen partnerships with Tourism Australia and Tourism & Events Queensland, as well as local stakeholders including Sunshine Coast Council, Sunshine Coast Airport and the Noosa and Gympie local tourism organisations.

“In 2019, the region attracted record international and domestic visitor numbers, and delivered record expenditure to the Sunshine Coast community. The arrival of COVID-19 has stunted growth, but thanks to Simon’s efforts the region is extremely well-placed to bounce back when restrictions are relaxed.

“On behalf of the Visit Sunshine Coast Board we thank Simon for his contribution and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

A national campaign for the role of CEO will begin soon.