The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) announced on 5 October 2026 that it has appointed Annette Gregg as its Chief Executive Officer, which it described as the first time a woman has held the role in the association’s 57-year history. According to the organisation’s press release, Gregg took up her responsibilities effective 5 October and will lead the association from its global headquarters at One World Trade Center in New York.
WTCA describes itself as an international trade organisation connecting more than 300 World Trade Center locations across nearly 100 countries and territories. Its release said Gregg joins as the association enters a new chapter following the recent return of its global headquarters to the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan after 25 years.
The Role and the Record
As chief executive, Gregg will provide strategic leadership to WTCA and its global staff, working with the Board of Directors and members, the release said. She will also act as a leading public voice for the association, with a focus on strengthening engagement across its membership and expanding the global network.
The association said Gregg brings more than 30 years of leadership experience spanning global associations, private enterprise and the international business events and hospitality sectors. Most recently she was CEO of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), which WTCA described as a global association of approximately 3,700 members and 27 chapters. According to WTCA, SITE increased topline revenue by 160 per cent in three years under her leadership while membership grew by more than 70 per cent. Before that she was Chief Revenue Officer at Meeting Professionals International, where WTCA said she was responsible for about 70 per cent of the organisation’s revenue.
What the Association Said
John E. Drew, Chair of the WTCA Board of Directors, said Gregg “brings the combination of strategic vision, financial acumen and global stakeholder engagement that WTCA needs as we look toward the future.” Gregg said she saw significant opportunity to build on the strength of WTCA’s brand and member network, and described herself as honoured to lead it into its next chapter.
Why It Matters
Leadership appointments at membership bodies tend to set the tone for how they serve their networks, and this one comes as the association settles into a new headquarters. The choice of a leader drawn from the association and events sector signals the kind of experience the board wants at the helm, though the results of that choice will only be visible over time.
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