DEMA announced this week that its Board of Directors has appointed Nicole Russell as the organization’s interim CEO and president, effective immediately.
Russell most recently served as DEMA vice president of operations, and has been with the organization since July 2002, according to her LinkedIn bio.
In the meantime, DEMA said:
“The board remains committed to a thorough and thoughtful selection process for DEMA’s next President & CEO, as originally announced in October 2025. The appointed Search Committee is reviewing and meeting with qualified candidates and the Board expects to identify an outstanding leader who will guide DEMA into its next chapter.”
DEMA Board Chair Dan Orr said of Russell’s appointment:
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are confident in Nicole’s ability to lead the organization during this transitional period. Her deep understanding of our mission, coupled with her commitment to the diving industry and our members, makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead the Association while the search for our next President & CEO continues.”
Russell added:
“I am honored to serve as Interim CEO & President during this important time for DEMA. Our focus remains on delivering value to members, supporting our industry partners, and ensuring a smooth leadership transition.”
DEMA is looking to replace Tom Ingram, who announced his retirement last October.
In an interview with DeeperBlue at last year’s DEMA Show in Orlando, Ingram said his biggest piece of advice for his successor would be: “Keep an open mind.”
“You’re a servant here. That’s your job. You need to listen to your members. You need to make sure that you’re staying within the letter of the law, which, frankly, is tough in this position. Every day, there’s 10 different opinions about something, or more, about how something could be done. And you need to just be very cautious about it.”
