Karen Bolinger officially joined the team at the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) yesterday as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The former General Manager of the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ms Bolinger’s most recent role was General Manager Strategy and Marketing for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS).

Ms Bolinger made the move to Melbourne just last week to take the position of CEO for MCVB.

MCVB’s Chairman, Mr Chris Barlow, said he was extremely pleased to welcome Ms Bolinger to the organisation as well as to the city.

“I have every confidence in Karen and have no doubt she will be an outstanding leader for our team,” Mr Barlow said.

Mr Barlow also said that Ms Bolinger was joining MCVB at a particularly fortuitous time.

“MCVB’s results in the first quarter of the 2011/12 financial year have been exceptional,” he said.

“As at the end of September 2011, the number of business events secured by MCVB was standing at 200 per cent of our first quarter target, while expected delegate numbers and economic impact were at 149 per cent and 176 per cent of our first quarter targets respectively.

“This is an outstanding result and is a testament to the strength of the MCVB team.”

Ms Bolinger also praised MCVB staff.

“This is a great achievement and I look forward to working with the team to build on this success for the remainder of the financial year and beyond,” she said.