April 26, 2025 — Five Brand USA board members, including the board chair, were abruptly fired via email on Friday, according to two sources familiar with the dismissals.

The five board members relieved of their Brand USA board duties were: Chair Elliott Ferguson, CEO of Destination DC; Vice Chair Lauren Bailey, CEO of Upward Projects; Kristen Esposito, principal of Esposito Global Partners; Secretary Allen Orr, founder of Orr Immigration Law; and Tim Mapes, chief marketing and communications officer at Delta Air Lines.

The board has 11 members appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce with input from the U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Read more from Dennis Schaal, Founding Editor and Executive Editor. at Skift.