In June 2016 RI Gov Gina Raimondo hired Lara Salamano - then VP/Partner Marketing at Pop Media in NY - to replace the previous incumbent as CMO of the RI Commerce Corp following a rebranding debacle.

Salamano's departure from RICC comes only weeks after Providence Warwick CVB President/CEO Martha Sheridan was named to head Greater Boston CVB.

Salamano seemed to be making progress in turning the RI state agency around, but has lately announced that she'll be leaving State employ this month to head the Infosys Design & Innovation Hub in Providence. (Doubtless that comes with a substantial raise in pay and decline in aggravation.)

So: the tourism brain-drain from Rhode Island continues, and RICC will once again be recruiting a new CMO.

Stay tuned.