Tourism Fiji CMO Srishti Narayan Steps Down After Record Growth

Srishti Narayan, chief marketing officer of Tourism Fiji, is leaving the organization next month after nearly four years, returning to New Zealand to rejoin media company Stuff as group head of marketing.

Her departure follows three consecutive years of record tourism visitation to Fiji under her leadership, leaving newly appointed CEO Paresh Pant to find her replacement without a named successor in place.

A Tenure Built on Post-Pandemic Recovery

Narayan joined Tourism Fiji in September 2022 as head of global marketing. She was promoted to CMO eight months later, following the departure of her predecessor Emma Campbell.

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During her tenure, Tourism Fiji shifted its marketing focus from beaches alone to authentic cultural experiences. The organization introduced the brand platform "Where Happiness Comes Naturally," developed with agency partner Havas, which also holds the organization's media and PR accounts. Subsequent campaigns included "Happy Passports" in November 2024 and "Be Fiji" in January 2025.

"The last almost four years at Tourism Fiji have been amongst the most rewarding of my career," Narayan said. "It has been an honour to serve Fiji through this role, to play a small part in sharing its story on the global stage."

Dual Leadership Turnover at the Top

Narayan's exit marks the second consecutive CMO transition at Tourism Fiji in approximately two years. It also follows the departure of former CEO Brent Hill in June, who subsequently became CMO of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee.

CEO Paresh Pant, recently appointed to replace Hill, is currently sourcing a replacement for the CMO role. No interim appointment has been announced.

The back-to-back leadership changes at both CEO and CMO level place Tourism Fiji in a position familiar to other destination marketing organizations globally. Discover Puerto Rico, Discover Long Island, and Travel Oregon all experienced senior leadership departures in 2025, reflecting a broader pattern of post-pandemic leadership turnover across the sector.

The Travel Oregon case offers a cautionary note. That organization's executive director departure was accompanied by governance scrutiny, including a reported salary exceeding US$365,000 and workplace culture concerns. The board subsequently reset the CEO salary range to between US$235,000 and US$255,000. The episode illustrates the reputational risks that can accompany unplanned or reactive leadership transitions at public-funded tourism bodies.

Brand Continuity During the Search Period

Tourism Fiji's established relationship with Havas provides some continuity during the CMO search. The agency holds the full marketing remit, including creative, media, PR, and influencer work, giving the organization an external anchor while the internal leadership gap is filled.

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The existing brand platform also offers stability. "Where Happiness Comes Naturally" has been active since 2022, meaning any incoming CMO inherits a defined strategic foundation rather than starting from scratch.

Narayan's move back to the media sector reflects a pattern common across the Pacific region. Her career has spanned Stuff, Bank of New Zealand, ANZ, and Tourism Fiji, illustrating how senior marketing talent in the region cycles across tourism, media, and financial services organizations.

CEO Pant has not announced a timeline for the CMO appointment. Tourism Fiji has not named an interim marketing lead.