(a) The commission shall be administered by an executive director. That individual shall be a tourism industry marketing professional, recommended by a vote of the commissioners and approved by the Governor. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of both the commissioners and the Governor.
(b) The executive director shall report to and receive overall guidance from the commission, and shall implement the commission’s tourism marketing plan. The executive director shall report to the director for day-to-day managerial and financial responsibilities.
(c) The executive director shall serve as the director of the office and shall be an exempt employee, employed by the state. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the executive director may supervise both employees of the commission and employees of the office, notwithstanding the fact that the commission employees are employees solely of the commission.
(d) The salary and benefits of the executive director shall be determined by the commission, and approved by the director, based upon industry standards for a director of a marketing budget of similar size. The entire salary and all benefits of the executive director shall be paid from assessments.