The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) appointed Sheila Leong as chief operating officer, effective July 3. A Singaporean national and a PATA staff member since 1998, Leong assumes the role of COO, a newly introduced position, to consolidate all operational activities. All regional directors and representatives will report to the COO.

Leong joined PATA in 1998 as director of Northeast Asia in the association's Singapore regional office. In 2000, she assumed the role of director of events and relocated to PATA's headquarters in Bangkok. Since then, she has played a lead role in organizing and implementing all PATA events.

Before joining PATA, Leong established her travel and tourism event management skills and contacts working with Franco-Asia Travel, Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort and Reed Exhibitions. Stu Lloyd, PATA's senior director of marketing and membership services, will leave PATA to explore new opportunities in the South East Asia region. Lloyd leaves PATA on July 3.