MARKETER Jacinta Nzioka-Mbithi has been appointed as the acting Kenya Tourism Board managing director to replace Muriithi Ndegwa whose three-year term has ended.

Tourism minister Dan Mwazo announced the appointment of Mbithi who was the KTB regional marketing manager for Europe. Mbithi, 37, has over 10 years in international tourism destination marketing at KTB and is one of the founder members of staff at the tourism marketing organisation.

She holds an MBA in strategic management, a bachelor's degree in tourism management from Moi University and a post-graduate diploma in marketing from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands.

Mbithi is also one of the founding executive directors of the Kenya Association of Women in Tourism and also a part time lecturer and mentor at Moi University tourism department.

She was recently recognised by the Italian Association of Travel Agents as one of the top 10 Key personalities from around the world making a difference in Tourism in 2012. She is married with three children.