MAM
Los Angeles Tourism appoints first-ever regional director for India market
Mumbai: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) is deepening its foothold in the India Market with the appointment of Ms. Seema Kadam as it’s first-ever Regional Director, India. In 2018, Los Angeles welcomed 130,000 visitors from India, an increase of 5.1% year-over-year making India the 3rd highest year-over-year international growth market for Los Angeles.
In her role, Kadam will develop and support air service for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); spearhead strategic travel trade engagement including the implementation of a robust training program, using the L.A. Insider Program; and attend key industry trade shows in the region.
“We established a travel trade presence in India several years ago through Sartha Marketing, who introduced Los Angeles to the industry. The time is now right to deepen our engagement. India holds such vast potential for Los Angeles and appointing a full-time, regional director to oversee all of our tourism activity is a natural evolution of our commitment to the market,” stated Kathryn Smits, Vice President, Tourism for Los Angeles Tourism. “Seema’s most recent experience with DMOs has her well-positioned to be successful in this new role.”
On her newly appointed role, Kadam stated, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the travel fraternity in India, to showcase the diversity and depth of experiences that destination Los Angeles has to offer. With over 25 years in the Indian travel industry, I anticipate that this new role is most likely going to be the most exciting and challenging chapter yet. I am eagerly looking forward to utilizing my knowledge and experience to contribute to the destination’s business goals. It is an honor to be representing a destination like Los Angeles that promotes values like cultural diversity and inclusivity which connect strongly with me personally.”
Kadam, who graduated from Mumbai University, also holds diplomas in Standard and Advanced Travel Management. Over the course of her career, she has worked with leading Indian travel players like Thomas Cook India, Kuoni Travels India, Finnair Plc, Switzerland Tourism and Tourism Fiji.
In addition to her exceptional pan-India travel network created over the years, Seema is also skilled at establishing and implementing strategies that are business driven and result-oriented. With her strong product knowledge and business development strengths, she is aptly empowered to navigate any micro or macro challenges during her tenure.
MAM
Kate Rouch steps down as OpenAI Chief Marketing Officer
Marketing leader prioritises health after late-stage breast cancer diagnosis.
MUMBAI: When the toughest battle moves from the boardroom to the personal front, even the sharpest minds know it’s time to step back and focus on winning the most important fight of all. Kate Rouch, chief marketing officer at OpenAI, has announced she is stepping down from her role to focus on recovery following a diagnosis of late-stage breast cancer.
In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, Rouch revealed she was diagnosed around a year and a half ago, shortly after taking on the CMO position. Despite undergoing intensive treatment, she continued to lead the company’s marketing function through what she described as one of the most challenging periods of her career.
She explained that while she remained deeply committed to her role and team, she had reached a point where prioritising her health and recovery had become essential. Rouch called the decision difficult, noting it required acknowledging personal limits and shifting priorities. She reflected that the experience had reshaped her understanding of courage not always about pushing harder, but sometimes about stepping back to focus on long-term wellbeing, family and sustainability.
Rouch expressed gratitude to her team and colleagues for their support. She mentioned that Gary will step in to help lead the function and recruit a successor. She plans to support the transition and remains open to returning in a different capacity in the future, depending on her health.
Prior to joining OpenAI, Rouch served as the first chief marketing officer at Coinbase and spent over a decade at Meta, where she was vice president and global head of brand and product marketing.
She also thanked well-wishers for their messages and shared that stories from fellow survivors had a meaningful impact during her treatment journey.
In the high-stakes world of tech marketing, Kate Rouch has always been known for her strategic brilliance. Now, she is showing a different kind of strength, one that reminds us that even the most driven leaders sometimes need to pause, heal, and come back stronger when the time is right. Wishing her a full and steady recovery.
