DETROIT – Visit Detroit President and CEO Claude Molinari today announced that 10 currently serving directors were reelected to the Visit Detroit Board and two new directors were elected to the Visit Detroit Board of Directors at Visit Detroit Annual Meeting held on January 21, 2026. The elected directors will serve a three-year term through 2028.

In addition, the Board of Directors selected its Officers for the next two years (2026-27) at its December 2025 Board of Directors Meeting.

Mike Murri, Scripps' Regional Vice President and the Vice President & General Manager of WXYZ Channel 7 and WMYD in Detroit, has been selected by the Board of Directors to serve as Visit Detroit's Board Chair through 2027. Murri served on the Board from 2023-25 during a pivotal era for Visit Detroit, including the record-setting 2024 NFL Draft, Detroit launching the region's first-ever Michelin Green Guide and the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau's rebranding as “Visit Detroit.”

“I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Visit Detroit Board of Directors,” said Murri. “Momentum has never been higher in the Detroit region, and we have a window of opportunity to capitalize even more. I want to thank Claude Molinari, his team and the entire Board for entrusting me with this leadership role. I can't wait to get started.” 

After also serving on the Board of Directors for the past three years, Christine Estereicher and Michael Montri have been selected by their board colleagues to serve as Vice Chairs.

Estereicher currently serves as the Vice President - Corporate and Public Affairs North America at Stellantis. Montri has served as the President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear since 2016.

After serving as a Vice Chair for the past two years, Christina Lovio George has been named Treasurer of the Visit Detroit Board of Directors by the Board of Directors. Her agency, Lovio George, manages communications and branding strategy for several Detroit-based brands, including Huntington Place and The Parade Company.

The 10 directors reelected to Visit Detroit's Board of Directors are Blair Bowman (President, Vibe Credit Union Showplace), Elliott Broom (Chief Operating Officer, Detroit Institute of Arts), Estereicher, former Chair David Katz (Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Detroit Medical Center), Hayley Murphy (CEO & Executive Director, Detroit Zoological Society), David Nicholson (President, PVS Chemicals), John Paul Rea (Deputy County Executive, Macomb County), Robert Riney (President & COO, Henry Ford Health), Nancy Tellem (Founder, BasBlue; Executive Chairman & Chief Media Officer, Eko) and Robin Terry (Chair, Motown Museum).   

The two newly elected directors to the Visit Detroit Board of Directors are Tiffany Albert (Senior Vice President of Community Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan) and Katy Trudeau (President & CEO of the Eastern Market Partnership).

“I couldn't be more excited to announce the reelected and new members of the Visit Detroit Board of Directors, along with our leadership officers,” said Claude Molinari, President & CEO, Visit Detroit. “It's a group with an outstanding vision that will serve as key voices for our organization and the Detroit region.

“Mike Murri will do a tremendous job filling the shoes of former Chairman David Katz, who helped guide Visit Detroit through a transformative era during his tenure. We're heading into 2026 with great momentum as a destination, and the next few years are going to be even more exciting.”

The complete Visit Detroit Board, including the Owners Advisory Committee representing hospitality leaders across Southeast Michigan, is comprised of:

• Tiffany Albert, Sr. Vice President, Community Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan 
• Rod Alberts, Emeritus with the Detroit Auto Show - Executive Committee Member
• Blair Bowman, President, Vibe Credit Union Showplace
• Elliott Broom, Chief Operating Officer, Detroit Institute of Arts - Executive Committee Member
• Chris Coffman, Chief Commercial Officer, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment
• David Coulter, County Executive, Oakland County
• Bryan Crowe, Chief Executive Officer, Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, Huntington Place - Executive Committee Member
• Matthew Cullen, Chairman, JACK Entertainment
• Nick DeMarco, Regional Sales Manager, Delta Airlines
• Jim Dobleske, Chair and CEO, Ford Land Development
• Christine Estereicher, Vice President, Public Affairs North America, Stellantis (Vice Chair) - Executive Committee Member
• Warren Evans, Wayne County Executive
• Ryan Friedriechs, Related Companies – Executive Committee Member
• Antoine Garibaldi, President Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor, University of Detroit Mercy (Past Chairman) - Executive Committee Member
• Michael Glass, General Manager, Doubletree Downtown Detroit – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Mark Hackel, County Executive, Macomb County
• Kimberly Harris, Director of Sales & Marketing, Cambria Hotel-Shelby Twp., Detroit-Utica – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Anthony Holt, Chief of Police, Wayne State University
• Shonda Isaac, General Manager, Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center – Chair of Owner Advisory Committee/Executive Committee Member
• Alicia Jeffreys, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Detroit Pistons
• David Katz, Sr. Vice President, Corporate Development, Detroit Medical Center (Past Chairman)
• R. J. King, Editor, DBusiness
• Andrew Leber, Vice President, Hospitality, Bedrock – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Christina Lovio-George, President & CEO, Lovio George (Treasurer) – Executive Committee Member
• Asad Malik, President & CEO, Amerilodge Group – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Linda McIntosh, Corporate Director of Marketing & Communications, The Forbes Company
• Sarah A. Milligan, General Manager, Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Auburn Hills – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Michael Montri, President, Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix (Vice Chair) – Executive Committee
• Patricia Mooradian, President, The Henry Ford – Executive Committee Member
• Hayley Murphy, Executive Director and CEO, Detroit Zoological Society
• Michael Murri, Scripps Regional Vice President and the Vice President & General Manager of WXYZ and WMYD (Chairman)
• Chad Newton, Executive Director, Detroit Wayne County Airport Authority
• David Nicholson, President, PVS Chemicals
• Devan P. Patel, Owner, Shore Pointe Motor Lodge – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Khalil Rahal, Director of Economic Development, DTE
• John Paul Rea, Deputy Director, Macomb County – Executive Committee Member
• Robert Riney, President & Chief Executive Officer, Henry Ford Health System
• Michelle Street, General Manager Detroit Marriott Troy – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Duane Swanson, Director of Operations, Somerset Inn – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Nancy Tellem, Executive Chair, EKO; Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, BasBlue – Executive Committee Member
• Robin Terry, Chair, Motown Historical Museum
• Katy Trudeau, President & CEO, Eastern Market Partnership
• Gary Torgow, President & CEO, Huntington Bank
• Paul Wegert, Chief Executive Officer/Co-Founder, Boutique Hotel Professionals – OAC Member
• Nia Winston, President, UNITE Here Local 24
• Kelly Wolgamott, Vice President, Pure Michigan – Owner Advisory Committee Member
• Michael Zorn, General Manager, Sr. VP of Operations for Hotel Investment Services – Owner Advisory Committee Member

About Visit Detroit

Visit Detroit is the official destination marketing organization for the tri-county region of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and the city of Detroit, dedicated to promoting Detroit as a world-class international destination for leisure and business travelers. With a focus on showcasing the region's dynamic culture, rich history, and diverse attractions, Visit Detroit aims to drive tourism, economic growth, and community pride. Visit Detroit was founded in 1896 as the world's first convention and visitors bureau, and more than 900 businesses are represented in the membership. For more information go to VisitDetroit.com.

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