By Carole Dennett
The chairman of the Island’s under-fire tourism body dramatically resigned with immediate effect yesterday, just three days after 12 new directors were elected. A number of the new team, elected by fellow businesses, have strongly criticised both the organisation’s performance, its governance and the way the election process itself was handled.
Visit Isle of Wight is responsible for promoting the Island as a tourist destination, and is funded by a mandatory levy on tourism businesses. A number have told the IW Observer that they feel they have been forced to pay for an underperforming service.
One successful candidate told the IW Observer last week that Kent-based chairman David Curtis-Brignell should “read the room” and prepare for retirement in his home county. Another warned the company: “Those that are elected must not be sidelined again.”
Concerns have also been raised over the use of an external consultant “to provide support to the appointment process.” and when the IW Observer questioned the employment status of Mr Curtis-Brignell, the paper received a solicitor’s letter.
Another of the new directors said last night: “Those decisions were a complete waste of money that should have been spent marketing the Island. The chairman of the board was paid the equivalent of £50,000 a year, albeit on a part-time basis, for undertaking duties that some of us would willingly do for nothing and he should surely have been able to handle the straightforward election of new directors. He clearly saw the writing on the wall and jumped before he had to answer some very difficult questions.”
A statement from the company said that Mr Curtis-Brignell’s duties will be undertaken on a temporary basis by the vice-chairman until the board meets and “agrees a way forward in relation to the chair’s replacement.” It did not name the vice-chairman.
The new directors elected by businesses who pay the WightBID levy are: Lawrence Bates (Wildheart Animal Sanctuary), Laura Baxter (The Orchards Holiday Park), Matthew Brooks (The Royal Hotel), Derek Curtis (Amazon World), Claire Davies (Parkdean Resorts), Edward Day (Monkey Madness), David Holmes (Garlic Festival), Marc Morgan-Huws (Isle of Wight Steam Railway), Lee Priddle (Robin Hill Partnership), Nick Spyker (Sandringham Hotel), Steven Wells (Luccombe Hall Hotel) and Dominic Wray (Blackgang Chine).