Tampa Bay & Co. names new CEO

TAMPA — After a nationwide search that began Dec. 20, Tampa Bay & Co. has hired Santiago Corrada as its new president and CEO.

Corrada, who is currently the chief of staff for the city of Tampa, is expected to start his new position in May.

Tampa Bay & Co. says its selection committee chose Corrada from a pool of 135 applicants for his local experience, management skills, industry knowledge, and leadership ability, among other qualities.

Corrada has participated in bidding and hosting efforts for the 2012 Republican National Convention and Super Bowl XLIII, according to a release. Under former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Corrada oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Tampa Convention Center. Corrada also currently serves on the boards of The Florida Aquarium, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, Glazer Children's Museum, the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa Museum of Art and Tampa Theatre.

Prior to joining the city of Tampa in 2004 as neighborhood services administrator, Corrada was the director of parks and recreation for the city of Miami and worked 17 years in the Miami-Dade County School System, the release says.

Tampa Bay & Co.'s mission is to promote economic development of the bay area through tourism.