Deana Ivey has been named president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Ivey has been with the organization since 1997, and was previously the executive vice president and chief marketing officer. The NCVC is restructuring its leadership, and Butch Spyridon will retain his position as CEO, which he has held since 1991.
Deana Ivey"As the organization has grown and Nashville's profile as a global destination has risen, we saw a need to expand our top leadership," said Kevin Lavender, executive vice president and head of commercial banking at Fifth Third Bank, who is chairman of the board of directors for the NCVC. "The city is fortunate to have Butch and Deana leading the hospitality industry."
Together, Ivey and Spyridon played key roles in branding Nashville as "Music City," in hosting the 2019 NFL Draft and in bidding on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They also created large concert events in the city, such as the annual Fourth of July and New Year's Eve celebrations. In 2019, Nashville welcomed 161.1 million visitors and earned $7.5 billion in direct visitor spending.
During the pandemic, Ivey was a key member of the Mayor's Hospitality Committee as an advocate for the tourism industry. She has received the Nashville Business Journal Women in Music award and the Women in Business award from "Nashville Lifestyles." Prior to Nashville, she served the tourism industry in both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for 10 years.
"Deana's advancement is much deserved," Spyridon said. "She has been a committed partner these past 25 years and has been integral in shaping the Music City brand, creating and attracting major events, and marketing Nashville around the world."